Manchester City 2 Hull City 0: Negredo and Toure Secure Three Point at the Etihad.

Manchester City beat Hull City Tigers by two goals despite a rather lackluster performance in front of the Etihad crowd.

Alvaro Negredo's Superb Header in the 65th Minute Gave City the Lead.
Alvaro Negredo’s Superb Header in the 65th Minute Gave City the Lead.

Alvaro Negredo scored a superb header five minutes after the hour mark before Yaya Toure shot home a brilliant free-kick on the stroke of full-time.

Manager, Manuel Pellegrini, made two changes from last week’s shock defeat by Cardiff. Aleksander Kolarov and the fit again Matija Nastasic came in for Gael Clichy and Jarvi Garcia.

Danny Graham, who signed from Sunderland, was the only change to the Steve Bruce’s side that beat Norwhich last weekend, replacing the suspended Yannick Sabo, while Stephen Quinn started from the bench.

Hull got off well against the 2011 champions, who have not lost twice in a trot in three years, and even had a Graham’s opener in the 10th minute disallowed, few minutes after Nigerian Sone Aluko missed a one-on-one opportunity against goalkeeper Joe Hart.

A Joleon Lescott header in the 13th minute was tipped over by goalkeeper Alan McGregor with the ball almost crossing under the bar.

The Visitors Won Half of the Midfield Battle But Failed to Score.
The Visitors Won Half of the Midfield Battle But Failed to Score.

‘The Tigers’ outnumbered City in the midfield for half an hour, preventing Toure and Fernandinho time on the ball as Sergio Aguero and David Silva couldn’t connect with any meaningful pass to pose a threat to the visitors’ defence.

Toure got a clear sight of goal in the 42 minute, but could not control his header from a corner and the ball looped high over the bar before referee Phil Dowd signaled the end of the first-half.

City started the second-half with more purposeful football, having upped their passing game which was a little bit shabby in the first-half.

David Silva Impressed With the Ball.
David Silva Impressed With the Ball.

Silva and Jesus Navas combined brilliantly ten minutes after the interval with the latter chipping in a cross from the right for the former to leap and fire a volley a few yards wide of McGregor’s goal.

The home team’s defense got under a bit of pressure with Hull lacking the finishing touch to an impressive attacking play.

And back in the visitors’ area, Many Figueroa and Robbie Brady acted as a solid obstacle between Pellegrini’s men and goal.

City got in the lead from nowhere in the 65th minute when half-time substitute Negredo got on the end of a Pablo Zabaleta’s inch-perfect cross to head home from close range.

Bruce’s men pressed for an equaliser as Hart dived to keep out a Brady’s effort on the 73 minute.

Three minutes later Nastasic got on the end of a cross from the right, but his goalwards header was saved by McGregor.

Hull pushed plenty of their men forward in search for an equaliser in the final ten while City packed their midfield and kept possession for too long in a bid to frustrate their visitors.

Stephen Quinn saw his cross blocked by Zabaleta and then poked a shot straight at Joe Hart, Graham failed to connect properly with his header after getting across to the near post as City hanged on for victory.

It was not going to be settled by just one goal as Toure whipped his shot from a dead ball over the wall and under the bar for City’s second.

Celebration Time For the 'Sky Blues'
Celebration Time For the ‘Sky Blues’

The Ivory Coast midfielder’s goal dealt the final punch on Hull City who were fantastic all through the game but failed to produce a clear cut chance at goal.