Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has suggested that Premier League match officials have a subconscious bias towards Manchester City and other big clubs.

Wolves were on the receiving end of another controversial VAR decision after John Stones' late header was allowed to stand at Molineux, giving City a 2-1 win.

The goal was originally ruled out because Bernardo Silva was in an offside position, but referee Chris Kavanagh changed his mind after viewing the pitchside monitor and decided the playmaker wasn't interfering.

It was another close call that went against Wolves, who led a campaign to scrap VAR over the summer. They're now sitting with just one point from their opening eight games.

O'Neil says the match officials aren't deliberately ruling in favour of City, but he thinks they're subconsciously giving them the benefit of the doubt in tight situations.

“There’s no chance that people are purposely against Wolves,” said O’Neil, who saw his side have a goal chalked off in similar circumstances against West Ham last season.

“But is there something in the subconscious around decision-making or, without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves?

“My focus and my senses are heightened when we’re facing Man City and Pep (Guardiola) and (Erling) Haaland. Are the officials the same, when it’s Haaland and when it’s Manchester City?

“Is there something in there that influences decision-making? And I’ve spoken to them about this as well, and they obviously guarantee me there isn’t. They are human.

“But Manchester City scoring a last-minute winner is a big thing. It’s a bigger thing than Wolves scoring a last-minute goal against West Ham. So maybe there’s something subconsciously that means that you are less likely to get them.

“I might be miles off, but if I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I’m upsetting a little guy. Nothing against little guys.

“But there is something in there and they definitely don’t do it on purpose. I know they’re 100 per cent honest, and they’re doing the best job they can, and I respect them fully.

“But maybe there’s something that just edges it in that direction when it’s really tight.”

City boss Pep Guardiola had less to say on the incident, other than stating Jose Sa’s vision was not impacted when Stones made contact with the ball, which echoed the Premier League’s explanation.

Guardiola said: “At the moment the linesman raised the flag, I said, ‘It’s a corner, how can it be offside?’.

Given that Sa was watching John's actions up until the moment of impact, the decision seems fair.

City were lucky to get the decision in their favour. They had struggled against a well-drilled and compact Wolves side.

Jorgen Strand Larsen's early goal for the determined home team was cancelled out by Josko Gvardiol, and it seemed as though City would fall short of a winning goal.

“It’s not the last fixture of the season but it is of course, important winning that way, we are not used like other teams to winning games in the last minute and today the flavour of winning this way is so nice,” Guardiola added.

“We were patient, we have to deal with that with teams that defend so deep, literally 11 players on the penalty spot. I said to the players please don’t judge what the opponents do, it belongs to us.

“I have a feeling that every time we are getting better, knowing the space is so difficult, it doesn’t exist. That is why we are really pleased for the victory.”