Carlos Tevez scored twice - including a superb solo effort - as Manchester City beat Wolves to go top of the table.
Nenad Milijas poked in the opener for Wolves before Kolo Toure grabbed a deflected equaliser from close range.
Tevez's individual effort put City ahead and then Yaya Toure made it 3-1 thanks to an assist from Edin Dzeko.
Tevez headed his second before Kevin Doyle scored from the spot after he was fouled by Joleon Lescott and Ronald Zubar headed in late on.
Wolves' debatable third in the last 10 minutes, with the ball only crossing the line by the slimmest of margins if at all, ensured a cracking finale, although City would have been left aggrieved had they let the win slip.
However, had the home side gone into the break a goal down there would not have been any complaints.
It is hard to criticise a manager who has won three Serie A titles and whose current team began the day second in the Premier League table.
But Roberto Mancini's decision to start £27m new signing Dzeko and push Tevez wide on the left was questionable, especially during a first half when Wolves took control in the middle.
Midway through the half, Argentine Tevez did begin to drift inside in order to exert his influence but by this stage Mick McCarthy's side had gone 1-0 up and looked comfortable.
The opener came from a Jarvis ball which struck Aleksandar Kolarov en route to a lively round of pinball between City players before it was poked in by Milijas.
The Serbian scorer then went close with a header as City's defence began to display the confused look.
Mancini praises 'fantastic' Tevez goals
And with City's midfield also looking like they did not fancy the fight, it was up to Tevez to lead their threat.
He provided a little teaser for what was to follow when he launched a rocket of a shot from 20 yards that caressed the top of the Wolves netting.
That awoke Mancini's millionaires and a few minutes later they equalised when Kolo's four-yard shot found its way in off the bodies of David Jones and keeper Wayne Hennessey.
And just before the interval, Kolarov, who was having one of his better games in a City shirt, fizzed in a cracker from 30 yards which the Wolves stopper unconvincingly pushed behind for a corner.
But the dazzling moment of the match came four minutes after the break.
Wolves deserved a point - McCarthy
Tevez picked up a throw-in from the right, tip-toed his way into the area and weaved past three Wolves challenges before slotting in to display why, of all City's multi-million pound buys, he remains their most important player.
He then played his part in the third. From the edge of his own area, Yaya Toure played the ball in-field to Tevez. The Argentine found Dzeko and his killer ball was timed brilliantly for the Ivorian, who made up 90 yards, to slot in.
And just before he came off to a standing ovation, Tevez headed in fellow countryman Pablo Zabaleta's clipped ball from the right.
That should have put the game safe, but City's Achilles is their defence.
Dzeko enjoys win on Man City debut
With 20 minutes of the match remaining, substitute and former Wolves player Lescott bundled over Doyle in the area.
Referee Lee Mason did not hesitate with his decision and Doyle stepped up to score only his second league goal of the season.
Wolves, sensing the comeback of all comebacks was on the cards, kept pressing and set up an exciting finish when Ronald Zubar's header was judged to have crossed the line, even though it appeared that Nigel de Jong had successfully cleared the effort.
Five minutes of stoppage time were played but City held on to move a point clear of their city rivals Manchester United, albeit having played there games more.
90:00+5:12 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+5:04 James Milner takes a shot. Karl Henry gets a block in.
90:00+4:11 Corner from right by-line taken by Stephen Hunt.
90:00+3:45 Geoffrey Mujangi Bia takes a shot. Blocked by Vincent Kompany.
90:00+1:48 James Milner decides to take the corner short.
90:00+0:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by David Jones on Nigel De Jong. Joe Hart takes the free kick.
89:09 Edin Dzeko is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
88:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Christophe Berra on Gnegneri Toure Yaya. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
87:06 David Jones challenges Nigel De Jong unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 85:02 Corner taken right-footed by Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, assist on the goal came from Geoffrey Mujangi Bia.
Correction - 85:02 GOAL - Ronald Zubar:Man City 4 - 3 Wolverhampton Ronald Zubar grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Man City 4-3 Wolverhampton.
85:02 Corner taken right-footed by Geoffrey Mujangi Bia from the left by-line, assist by Geoffrey Mujangi Bia.
85:02 GOAL - Ronald Zubar:Man City 4 - 3 Wolverhampton Ronald Zubar finds the back of the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal.
Man City 4-3 Wolverhampton.
84:08 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
83:22 Substitution Adam Johnson goes off and David Silva comes on.
82:33 Corner taken right-footed by James Milner from the left by-line, Karl Henry manages to make a clearance.
82:09 Gnegneri Toure Yaya takes a shot. Save made by Wayne Hennessey.
80:42 Substitution Carlos Tevez goes off and James Milner comes on.
79:53 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
78:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Steven Mouyokolo. Gnegneri Toure Yaya restarts play with the
free kick.
78:39 Substitution Geoffrey Mujangi Bia on for Matthew Jarvis.
75:44 Corner taken by Adam Johnson from the left by-line.
75:06 Joleon Lescott fouled by Kevin Doyle, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
74:46 The official flags Edin Dzeko offside. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
73:52 Corner taken by Adam Johnson played to the near post.
73:42 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Stearman.
69:01 Substitution Stephen Ward goes off and Steven Mouyokolo comes on.
68:40 Substitution Steven Fletcher goes off and Karl Henry comes on.
67:47 GOAL - Kevin Doyle:Man City 4 - 2 Wolverhampton Placed penalty scored by Kevin Doyle. Man City 4-2 Wolverhampton.
67:01 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Joleon Lescott.
65:16 Assist on the goal came from Pablo Zabaleta.
65:16 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 4 - 1 Wolverhampton Carlos Tevez finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Man City 4-1 Wolverhampton.
65:04 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson, clearance by David Jones.
64:36 Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Hunt.
61:11 Adam Johnson takes a shot.
56:33 Outswinging corner taken by Matthew Jarvis, Ronald Zubar takes a shot.
55:21 Foul by Aleksandar Kolarov on Kevin Doyle, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.
53:05 Edin Dzeko provided the assist for the goal.
53:05 GOAL - Gnegneri Toure Yaya:Man City 3 - 1 Wolverhampton Gnegneri Toure Yaya finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Man
City 3-1 Wolverhampton.
51:11 Outswinging corner taken by Adam Johnson.
50:46 Substitution Kolo Toure leaves the field to be replaced by Joleon Lescott.
50:13 Carlos Tevez produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.
49:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ronald Zubar by Edin Dzeko. Wayne Hennessey takes the direct free kick.
48:11 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 2 - 1 Wolverhampton A goal is scored by Carlos Tevez from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man City 2-1 Wolverhampton.
45:42 Unfair challenge on Stephen Hunt by Pablo Zabaleta results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Hunt.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:10 The match has reached half-time.
44:28 The referee blows for offside against Steven Fletcher. Nigel De Jong restarts play with the free kick.
43:42 Corner from right by-line taken by Adam Johnson.
43:28 Aleksandar Kolarov takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
39:53 Assist on the goal came from Vincent Kompany.
39:53 GOAL - Kolo Toure:Man City 1 - 1 Wolverhampton Kolo Toure fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Man City 1-1 Wolverhampton.
39:53 Corner taken by Adam Johnson from the left by-line.
39:23 Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Blocked by Ronald Zubar.
36:15 Corner from left by-line crossed in by Matthew Jarvis, Gnegneri Toure Yaya manages to make a clearance.
33:49 Shot from just outside the area by Carlos Tevez goes over the bar.
32:37 Christophe Berra fouled by Carlos Tevez, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.
30:13 Adam Johnson takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
27:56 David Jones challenges Carlos Tevez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Carlos Tevez.
27:11 The referee blows for offside. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
24:25 Short corner taken by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line, Effort from outside the box by Stephen Hunt goes wide right of
the target.
22:54 Kolo Toure concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Doyle. Stephen Ward takes the free kick.
21:37 Outswinging corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the left by-line played to the near post, Nigel De Jong manages to make a clearance.
20:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Pablo Zabaleta on Kevin Doyle. Free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.
20:27 Stephen Hunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Zabaleta. Direct free kick taken by Pablo Zabaleta.
19:22 Outswinging corner taken by Matthew Jarvis from the right by-line, clearance made by Pablo Zabaleta.
19:02 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Blocked by Aleksandar Kolarov.
17:34 Gnegneri Toure Yaya decides to take the corner short.
15:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kolo Toure on Kevin Doyle. Nenad Milijas restarts play with the free kick.
14:25 Nenad Milijas takes a shot. Save made by Joe Hart.
13:17 Corner from left by-line taken by Adam Johnson.
11:52 Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
Correction - 11:52 Nenad Milijas takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
Correction - 11:46 GOAL - Nenad Milijas:Man City 0 - 1 Wolverhampton Nenad Milijas fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man City 0-1 Wolverhampton.
11:46 GOAL - Steven Fletcher:Man City 0 - 1 Wolverhampton Steven Fletcher grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man City 0-1 Wolverhampton.
11:32 Unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Gareth Barry results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Hunt.
10:59 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Fletcher. Indirect free kick taken by Vincent Kompany.
6:39 Corner taken by Matthew Jarvis, save by Joe Hart.
6:25 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Blocked by Aleksandar Kolarov.
6:04 Corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson from the left by-line to the near post, Steven Fletcher manages to make a clearance.
4:54 Unfair challenge on Edin Dzeko by Stephen Hunt results in a free kick. Carlos Tevez produces a strike on goal direct from
the free kick.
2:54 The official flags Steven Fletcher offside. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
1:42 Steven Fletcher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nigel De Jong. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick.
0:16 Nenad Milijas produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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