The Blues raced out of the blocks with two early goals, but were pegged back before the break following a nightmare ten minutes for Eliaquim Mangala – but the champions resumed control after the break, scoring twice to take three richly deserved points.
If the Capital One Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday was a copybook game of two halves, the opening period against Hull was, if anything, a half of two halves with the first 20 minutes being completely dominated by City before the Tigers clawed their way back from the dead to go into half-time level.
It looked as though Hull were in for a long afternoon as the champions raced into a 2-0 lead with 11 minutes gone, playing a brand of football that suggested the points would be wrapped up well before the break
...Hull 2 City 4...
Aguero gave the hosts an early warning as he broke free inside the box and forced Allan McGregor to beat the ball away at his near post – but it was brief respite for Steve Bruce’s men who found themselves behind five minutes later.
It was the determination of Pablo Zabaleta that gave Aguero the opportunity when the City full-back won a 50/50 header on the edge of the box and directed the ball into the path of Kun who span and lashed the ball home from six yards with just seven minutes on the clock.
Hull had actually created a more than presentable chance just seconds earlier as Livermore found Jelavic on his own in the box but he couldn’t apply the necessary touch to give his team the lead.
And the miss was punished further on 11 minutes when David Silva found Dzeko on the left-hand side of the Hull box and the Bosnian held the ball, cut inside and then hit a howitzer into the top corner from 20 yards.
So ponderous were the home defence that City were afforded acres of space to create chance after chance and it seemed just a matter of time before the game was put to bed, but on 20 minutes, Hull were give an unlikely route back into the game
...Hull 2 City 4...
In a rare attack, Rosenior skipped past Gael Clichy and managed to get his cross in before Yaya Toure’s challenge but though City defenders were queuing up to clear the ball, it was Eliaquim Mangala who got there first, planted a firm header past Willy Caballero to halve the deficit.
Ten minutes later, the Tigers were somehow on level terms as the unfortunate Mangala attempted a clearance in the box and didn’t see Hernandez coming in on his blindside and he crumpled under the Frenchman’s high boot.
The referee pointed to the spot and Hernandez tucked away the spot-kick to leave the City players and travelling fans scratching their heads at how a position of such comfort have dissipated so quickly.
The remainder of the half was scrappy and the hope was City would re-group at the break and reassert command against the Humberside outfit and within five minutes of the re-start, Yaya Toure almost put the Blues back in the lead with a rasping 30-yarder that rattled the post with McGregor well beaten.
With the visitors camped in the Hull half, finally, on 67 minutes, City regained the lead.
Silva, at his magical best, weaved across midfield before laying the ball to Dzeko who took the pass and then hit a low shot across McGregor that rolled inside the post and sent the 3,000 travelling supporters wild
...Hull 2 City 4...
It was no more than City deserved but Pellegrini’s men had still made hard work of a game they had bossed for the majority of the game – and when sub Frank Lampard finally sealed the points three minutes from the end of normal time with his fourth goal in three games, the final score had a far more realistic look about it given the overall balance of play.
City v AS Roma – tickets available!
Tickets are still available for City’s opening home Champions League clash against AS Roma on 30 September (7:45pm BST).
Don’t miss out on this crucial encounter as Manuel Pellegrini’s men look to continue their European adventure with this must-win tie against the Italian outfit.
European nights at the Etihad Stadium under the lights are always special so get your tickets now.
