MAN CITY 3, HULL CITY 1
Manchester City’s home win against relegation-threatened Hull City was little more than a routine victory.
City triumphed without every having to hit top gear as they remain in the Premier League’s final Champions League spot.
Goals from Ahmed Elmohamady, Sergio Aguero and Fabian Delph kept City clear of Arsenal and Manchester United in pursuit of a top-four finish.
It was a workmanlike display as City built a 3-0 lead only to concede a late goal from Andrea Ranocchia as they were unable to keep a clean sheet – recalled keeper Claudio Bravo was again at fault.
But City were pleased with the win as much tougher matches lie ahead in the remainder of the season.
They had 67-per-cent possession, 23 goal attempts to six while on target it was 7-1 in their favour, an indication as to their dominance.
City manager Pep Guardiola believed the fight for the Champions League places will not be decided until the last game of the season.
He added it is a battle between Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Manchester United for the last two places.
“We will fight to the end and it will be a success to qualify for the Champions League and we go into the FA Cup semi final against Arsenal in a good mentality,” he said.
Guardiola was delighted with the second goal saying it epitomised what City are trying to achieve as it involved the whole team in the build up.
He added that the goal conceded, however, again showed they are mentally not good enough at the back, a failing throughout the season.
Guardiola was asked about Aguero not celebrating his goal.
He said: “I didn’t speak to him, but I am pretty sure he was happy. He likes to score goals and he did.
“Sergio has made an amazing step forward in the last two months scoring more than one goal a game.”
Hull manager Marco Silva had no complaints saying City deserved to win, adding his team looked tired after the last two homes games that had taken a massive effort.
City made four changes from the side that started in Wednesday’s defeat at Chelsea.
Losing their places were keeper Willy Caballero, Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne who were replaced by Bravo, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling.
Hull were without centre-back Harry Maguire through a knee injury as his place went to Michael Dawson while Abel Hernandez was replaced by Evandro.
City, who won 3-0 at Hull City on Boxing Day, had won five of their last six games against the Tigers, the exception being a 1-1 home draw in February 2015.
Had it not been for a decent double save from keeper Eldin Jakupovic to deny David Silva, on his 300th City appearance, and Leroy Sane, the home side would have taken a fifth-minute lead.
Aguero fired narrowly wide from 25 yards, but City were finding it tough against a well organised visiting side.
Toure then took aim from 30 yards as his shot landed on the roof of the net as City looked to make a breakthrough.
Jakupovic then made an excellent save to turn over a free kick from Toure, awarded after Aguero was brought down by Evandro who was booked.
The breakthrough came just after the half hour when Jesus Navas’ low cross from the right was turned past his own keeper by Elmohamady.
Silva shot over from a Sterling cut back as City searched for a second goal.
Hull had a good chance when Kamil Grosicki cut in from the left, but shot wide of the far post.
City began the second half with an urgency they lacked in the first period.
And they doubled their lead within three minutes when Sterling weaved his way clear in the box and from the right cross for Aguero who squeezed a shot past Jakupovic and Elmohamady who were both on the goalline.
It was his 28th goal of the season and his 10th in the last 10 games, and City’s 100th goal of the season.
And it was nearly 3-0 moments later when Leroy Sane got on to the end of a Sterling cross but his shot from six yards was blocked by Jakupovic.
City added a third goal after 64 minutes when Sterling turned provider again with a cross from the right that was thumped home by Delph with a thunderous drive from the edge of the box for his second goal of the season.
Guardiola made his first change mid-half when Sane was replaced by Nolito. And he was soon followed by Kelechi Iheanacho who replaced Silva.
And a third change in eight minutes saw Toure’s place taken by Fernando Reges as Guardiola made his third change.
Delph had a thirst for goals as he tried his luck again from outside the box, this time hitting his drive into the side netting.
Hull scored a consolation goal with five minutes left when substitute Shaun Maloney cut the ball back from the left for Ranocchia whose shot from 10 yards squirmed past Bravo who was at fault for yet another goal.
Since January 2 Bravo has faced seven shots in Premier League games and conceded every one of them, a damning statistic.
In stoppage time, City almost added a fourth goal when Kolarov’s free kick was spooned to safety by Jakupovic.