“In the first half we forgot where the goal was, in the second half, our strikers saw the goal a bit more and after the first goal it was easy.”, Pep Guardiola – 26/12/2016.
Goals: Toure (72' pen), Iheancho (78'), Davies (90'+4 OG)
Line Up (4-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (5.5)
Sagna (6.5)
Clichy (6)
Otamendi (6)
Stones (6), (Kolorov 18' (5.5))
Toure (8.5)
Sterling (7.5)
Fernandinho (6.5)
Silva (7.5), Fernando 87' (5.5)
Nolito (5.5), (Iheanacho 57' (7))
De Bruyne (7)
Bravo (5.5)
Sagna (6.5)
Clichy (6)
Otamendi (6)
Stones (6), (Kolorov 18' (5.5))
Toure (8.5)
Sterling (7.5)
Fernandinho (6.5)
Silva (7.5), Fernando 87' (5.5)
Nolito (5.5), (Iheanacho 57' (7))
De Bruyne (7)
Referee; Martin Atkinson (7)
Stats;Possession, 33%/67%; Shots, 10(3)/16(6); Corners, 4/7; Fouls, 11/14
Another solid second half performance saw City creep back within seven points of Chelsea, in what is looking like a five horse race for second spot, following the Londoners twelfth victory on the bounce to re-establish their dominance at the top.
The game followed a similar pattern, with Hull setting out with a solid tight nine at the back in the first half, and City off the pace with what exactly to do to break Hull down; keeping high possession but with little pace of action in the penalty area .
The second half was much more eventful. Hull decided that the success of the first half tactics was not enough, and started to press City's goal. City similarly realized that more tempo to their game was needed. The result was a much more open game with Hull actually looking a more likely prospect for five minutes or so. Then, as City's more accurate passing, and expansive football began to open up space (pressed by the ever efficient Toure), the City team again remembered the penalty area as a place of interest.
The breakthrough when it came, was from the first Sterling run into the box on 72'; his heals clearly being clipped by Robertson giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. The resulting penalty was smashed to the keeper Marshall's left and from that point on the result never looked in doubt. Goals were added by Iheanacho on 78', tapping in a Silva cross from the right following De Bruynes direction and inch perfect pass to the magician. Sterling added to Hull's misery late on, again using his pace to get to the by line from Yaya's through ball with the outside of his boot, the cross was played with pace for Iheanacho, but Davies put into his own net before it got there.
So an efficient if not rousing performance. Yaya Toure again put in a man of the match performance, making it ever more difficult for Pep not to offer the Ivorian talisman another year on his contract; however much his agent may wind up everyone at the club. Big game next at Anfield with 9 points from 9 so far over Christmas.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
