“It was important for us to win after many days without a win. We started well and created chances and we had the right attitude.n”, Guardiola – 08/04/2017.
Goals: Elmohamady 69' (OG), Aguero 48', Delph 64'; Ranocchia 85'
Line Up (4-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (5.5)
Navas (7)
Kolorov (6)
Stones (6)
Clichy (6.5)
Toure (6.5), (Fernando 74' (5.5))
Sterling (8)
Delph (7)
Sané (6.5), (Nolito 66' (5.5))
Silva (7.5), (Iheanacho 75' (5.5))
Agüero (7)
Bravo (5.5)
Navas (7)
Kolorov (6)
Stones (6)
Clichy (6.5)
Toure (6.5), (Fernando 74' (5.5))
Sterling (8)
Delph (7)
Sané (6.5), (Nolito 66' (5.5))
Silva (7.5), (Iheanacho 75' (5.5))
Agüero (7)
Referee; Michael Oliver (4)
Stats;Possession, 68%/32%; Shots, 23(7)/6(1); Corners, 7/3; Fouls, 6/8
A sunny day in Manchester, and City with a "banana skin" fixture against a Hull City side scrapping for their survival, and coming to the Etihad with consecutive wins verses 'Boro and West Ham under their belts.
As it turned out, City were comfortably the better side for much of the game, without ever really seeming to click into top gear. David Silva oiled the wheels throughout, until his withdrawal on 75', and Fabian Delph showed he is willing to fight for a place in the squad come next season, with his second solid display in the holding role in five days.
There were other positives. Delph's application to cover for Navas when the he went forward from right back, allowed the Spaniard much more confidence in the position, putting in several good crosses. On the half hour one of these found Elmohamady at sixes and sevens with Sane on his left shoulder as he put into his own net, 1-0. City didn't really look back from that point.
Sterling was particularly impressive, and with Agüero putting in a shift throughout, it was only a matter of time for the second came. And it was that very combination that provided just after half time, as Sterlings pace and agility took him into the box and towards the by-line, squaring back for Kun to force the ball home off two Hull defenders, 2-0.
With Hull pressed back, and lacking an out ball, City continued to press. On 64' Delph finding himself released more and more from defensive duties, latched onto Sterling's pass across the front of the eighteen yard box, having been released by Silva. Delph looked up and rifled the ball left footed into the bottom right, 3-0.
That should have been game-over, but having played with some poise almost ninety minutes, the City defence reverted to type and let in a very preventable goal. Bravo will take the brunt of the stick, but he was arguably unsighted as Stones failed to clear his lines and a scuffed effort from the Hull centre half crept through Bravo's weak attempt to stop it. It can't be easy for Bravo, but with two out of every shot on target he's faced all season going in the net, my opinion remains he needs replacing in the summer.
So a workman like three points, as City step on towards hopefully making a top four berth their own over the next few weeks. Next up Southampton away, the location of one of Pellergrini's worst performances last season, and another "banana-skin". #CTID.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
