HULL CITY 2, MANCHESTER CITY 4
Early goal for Sergio Aguero sets City on their way
Edin Dzeko scores his first goals of the season
Eliaquim Mangala mistakes allow Hull to draw level
Frank Lampard’s fourth goal in a week confirms victory for City, increasing calls to extend his stay at City
Substitute Frank Lampard grabbed his fourth goal in a week as City overcame stubborn resistance from Hull City to win at the KC Stadium.
The late strike will only add to the calls for City to extend the veteran midfielder’s loan spell from his parent club New York City FC, especially as Yaya Toure is expected to travel to the African Cup of Nations early next year.
City had raced into a two goal lead after just 11 minutes with goals by Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko but errors by Eliaquim Mangala allowed Hull to draw level before second half goals by Dzeko and Lampard sealed victory.
Willy Caballero retained his place in goal from the 7-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday, while James Milner stayed in the team after news emerged that Samir Nasri had undergone surgery for a groin injury and would be out for around a month.
City made a total of five changes from the Sheffield Wednesday game in midweek. Pablo Zabaleta returned from suspension in midweek to replace Bacary Sagna, while Aleksander Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, and David Silva came in for Gael Clichy, Martin Demichelis, Jesus Navas, and Frank Lampard. Jose Angel Pozo, who scored in midweek, retained his place on the City bench.
The Champions looked set for another cricket score after Zabaleta won a header on the edge of the box and the ball fell to his fellow Argentine Aguero who turned and hit a volley past Allan McGregor after just seven minutes.
City extended their lead just four minutes later when Edin Dzeko cut inside from the left an unleashed a stunning strike from just outside the area that beat McGregor.
Having had an impressive debut last Sunday against Chelsea, Eliaquim Mangala could have been forgiven for resting on his laurels against a below-par Sheffield Wednesday side in midweek but Hull proved there were no easy games in the Barclays Premier League by staging an unlikely comeback by preying on a pair of mistakes by the Frenchman.
Mangala headed Liam Rosenior’s searching cross into his own net after just 20 minutes and was booked for a high tackle on Abel Hernandez in the area after 33 minutes that resulted in a penalty which the Uruguayan put away to level the scores at two-apiece.
City couldn’t afford to drop further behind Chelsea in the league and surged forward in the second half. Yaya Toure hit the woodwork early in the second half before City finally restored the lead in the 68th minute.
Dzeko was put through with a superb through ball by Silva and stroked the ball past McGregor left footed to restore City’s advantage.
Hull could have levelled the scores again through chances by Gaston Ramirez and Tom Huddlestone’s deflected shot but City finally ended the Hull resistance three minutes from the end when Zabaleta cut the ball back late on for Lampard to stab home and seal the points.