Pep Guardiola has said his side’s season has not been good enough, but they are hitting their stride at just the right time, reaching the FA Cup final last weekend and extending their unbeaten run to nine games on Friday.
City have slipped off the top and been knocked out of the Champions League early in their patchy campaign, and the result against Wolves was just the second time this season they had won five games in a row.
The hosts were given a stern test by an impressive Wolves outfit, but as good sides do they managed to hold firm before hitting their opponents with a goal against the run of play.
Speedy winger Doku proved to be a menace from the left throughout the game and it was his low cross on 35 minutes which was converted by De Bruyne.
The captain is approaching the end of his City career and Wolves will be more than happy to see the back of him, as De Bruyne has contributed six goals and five assists against them during his 11-year spell with the club.
Omar Marmoush blazed over and Mateo Kovacic scuffed wide, but City held on for a significant victory after Forest were beaten at home by Brentford on Thursday.
With league games remaining against already-relegated Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham, City know victories in those matches will assure them a place in Europe’s elite next term.
