Manchester City moved into the 2nd spot in the table after a hard-fought win over Hull City. The position might well be temporary with Liverpool slated to play tomorrow. The 3-0 scoreline implies a straightforward win but it was far from it. Another 1st half display where City dominated but failed to penetrate. A story done and dusted several times this season. But Pep would have been thankful that Hull could not capitalise on the moments when they threatened to attack, especially at the start of the 2nd half.
And the staunch defence finally broke with Sterling’s burst of pace winning him a penalty which Yaya Toure coolly put away to make it 10/10 penalties for City. Thereafter, City comfortably controlled the game with the pressure gone and they added 2 more to the tally and importantly held on for a clean sheet. The 3-0 win might come in helpful later on as City very well know from past experiences.
Let us take a look at the talking points from the game.
MANCHESTER CITY PLOUGH ON
It looked laboured at times but It also looked brilliant at times. City are getting into the 2nd gear but the decisive 3rd and 4th gear are proving difficult to get into for the Sky Blues. Failure to take their chance will cost them, as it did against Chelsea. Hull City could not capitalise but City cannot afford to let things leave late. While the gap with Chelsea which is 7 points might look big, they did what they had to do. City need to stay in such a position from where they can capitalise if and when Chelsea stumble.
ANOTHER BIG EFFORT BY HULL CITY PRODUCING ZILCH
For the second consecutive match, Hull City left everything on the pitch but they went home with nothing. The hard work is there, the desire is there and the fear of relegation is there. But the requisite quality is missing along with a bit of luck.
Last week against West Ham United, they deserved to win and even today for most parts they gave as good as they got. But all for nothing and there is a fear this might break the squad with the team rooted to the bottom. New signings are paramount to have any sort of chance to fight for survival.
YAYA TOURE PROVING HIS WORTH YET AGAIN
It seems a long way back when Yaya was a certainty to leave in January with his obnoxious agent hell bent on a mud-slinging match with Pep, irrespective of his client’s best interests. But after a public and surely private apology from Yaya, he has been back in the thick of things and is suddenly one of their most influential players. Looking a transformed man, he kept his cool in the absence of Aguero and slotted in his 10th penalty for City, with a hundred percent accuracy rate.
