Where and when...
Premier League
City 5-1 Hull City
Eastlands, 26 December 2008
City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards (Onuoha 46), Ball, Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Fernandes 85), Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo (Jo 46).
Report...
Manchester City looked a rejuvenated side as they destroyed Hull with a scintillating display to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Stephen Ireland had a superb match, setting up Felipe Caicedo for the first two goals, and then providing the third for the returning superstar Robinho.
Shaun Wright-Phillips set up Robinho’s second to make it 4-0 before the break.
Hull sub Craig Fagan hit a consolation goal before Ireland had the final say, finishing off a move he had started.
Furious Hull boss Phil Brown gave his half-time team talk on the pitch. He spent three minutes with his players, in front of the fans who had travelled from east Yorkshire, wagging his finger at various individuals.
What it meant...
Mark Hughes’ Manchester City climbed out of the relegation zone and up to 15th in the Premier League with 21 points after 19 matches.
Despite the lowly position, the Blues were only two points off tenth position - where they would eventually finish that season.
The defeat left Hull in seventh position and began their slump towards to 17th place.
Highlights
Reaction...
Mark Hughes: “When we’re on the front foot, the quality of our attacking play is there for all to see but what we haven’t been able to do is produce that on a consistent basis.
“We have had occasions in recent weeks where we have disappointed. We have got quality in the side but collective and individual errors haven’t allowed us to play with the freedom with have today.”
Media reaction...
Paul Wilson (The Guardian): “From the moment Robinho helped to create the first goal with a sublimely lofted pass to Stephen Ireland, the idea that Manchester City would have to spend the rest of the season battling their way out of trouble seemed ridiculous.”
“Why bother grinding out results when you have players who can make decent opponents look stupid? On this evidence all Hughes needs to do is keep playing his Brazilians — he left all three out at the Hawthorns last weekend — and Ireland, whose place has never been in doubt.”
