Marmoush and Semenyo score in City's first league win in nearly a month

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 24 : Goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo powered Manchester City to a much‑needed 2‑0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, lifting Pep Guardiola's men provisionally to within four points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

City's first league win in nearly a month put them on 46 points after 23 games, while the misery continued for Wolves, who are last in the table on eight points, 14 from safety. Arsenal can restore their seven-point cushion with a win over Manchester United on Sunday.

Starting ahead of Erling Haaland in his first league action since playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, Marmoush put City on the scoresheet in the sixth minute with his first league goal of the season. Matheus Nunes, the target of boos from the travelling fans of his former team, swung in a cross from the right that Marmoush fired home.

"We fought until the end, showed a very good mentality from the beginning," Marmoush said. "(Guardiola) wanted us to put our hearts out there and fight for every ball.

"I am very happy to be here after AFCON and help my team. I saw that Matheus broke through and it was a good finish. Happy for the goal and happy for the three points. We just try to get our legs and mind fresh again and then we go again."

Semenyo, signed two weeks ago from Bournemouth, doubled City's lead in first-half injury time with his first league goal for the club, when Bernardo Silva found him on his right. Semenyo took a touch to set up his shot before unleashing a blistering low shot past goalkeeper Jose Sa.

The victory was City's first in the league since a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on December 27, with three draws and a derby loss to Manchester United since