Match report
Summary
Hull played well, particularly Mbokani up top, and Turner at the back, but it only took one moment of inspiration, and Hull folded. Up until that point, they could easily have won it, and Sagna’s goal-line clearance was the only thing that stopped them taking the lead.
Guardiola looked a little lost here, tactically speaking. He started the game without a striker, which didn’t work. He tried to make a tactical substitution after 13 minutes. For the rest of the half, Manchester City were dire. Only after half-time did the game come to life, which opened things up a bit. When it did, Sterling pounced and Yaya converted.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. We got through that together. See you next time. Bye!
Updated
Full-time: Hull City 0-3 Manchester City
Robertson holds his hands up apologetically to the Hull City fans. He knows it was his ill-timed tackle which sparked that collapse. Up until that point, the game was anybody’s.
Updated
GOAL! Hull City 0-3 Manchester City (Davies og 90+3 min)
With Hull committed forward, Toure releases Sterling with a sumptuous pass. Sterling is composed, turns Turner inside out and smashes a centre across the six-yard box. Davies, standing three yards away, diverts the ball into his own net. If he hadn’t got in the way, Iheanacho was there anyway.
Updated
90+2 min: I’d love to know Iheanacho’s minutes-per-goal ratio. It must be up there with the highest in the Premier League.
90 min: Three minutes added on here for injury time. Snodgrass tries a direct free-kick on goal, but it bounces harmlessly into Bravo’s clutches.
89 min: Always remember, guys.
Be inspired #MotivationMonday pic.twitter.com/lFxyruSFEJ
— Pitbull (@pitbull) October 31, 2016
87 min: Hull have lost all initiative and heart. The crowd have lost their voice. They know the game is up.
85 min: Man City make their final change: Fernando on for Silva, who hasn’t had the best game of his life, but always seems to make a telling contribution.
61 – David Silva has provided more Premier League assists than any other player in the competition since his debut. Visionary.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2016
83 min: Today’s Vardy mask-gate has at least eclipsed that Gundogan shirt debacle.
Yeeees 👏👏⚽ #HULMCI 0:2 @ManCity
— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) December 26, 2016
Mason meanwhile, has been given a yellow card for a challenge on Sterling.
Updated
81 min: Man City are in cruise control now. They can continue to do what they have done for much of this game – keep the ball in unthreatening areas – and win it.
79 min: Hull makes their final change: Diomande on, Clucas off. Their lack of quality in attacking areas is staggering, and a direct result of their very late transfer business. Phelan has got to sign a striker in January, or Hull are doomed.
GOAL! Hull City 0-2 Manchester City (Iheanacho 78)
That should do it. Hull pour forward but are caught on the break, De Bruyne receiving the ball in acres of space, feeding Silva on the right, and he squares a perfect pass across the six-yard box between goalkeeper and defender for a simple tap-in at the back post for Iheanacho.
Updated
75 min: It was hard to see where a City winner was going to come from. But Sterling has made the difference. I can’t think of a quicker player over five yards, apart from maybe Bellerin, or Leroy Sané? Hull, meanwhile, have made a change: Livermore off, Henriksen on. The Norwegian is a more attacking midfield player.
GOAL! Hull City 0-1 Manchester City (Toure 73)
Toure goes left, Marshall goes right, and City are 1-0 up.
Updated
Penalty to Manchester City!
As blatant a penalty as you are ever likely to see. Robertson brings down Sterling. Robertson holds his head in his hands. He couldn’t keep stride with Sterling, who accelerated preposterously from a standing start, and was just about to unleash a shot when Robertson attempted the tackle.
Updated
68 min: Guardiola is going absolutely spare on the touchline. I have no idea who or what for. Thank you William Malsam for this, the ‘Guardiola Pointing At Something – A Stuck-At-Work Montage’ …
Updated
66 min: De Bruyne fires a fierce shot just wide of Marshall’s near post. He is by far Manchester City’s most dangerous player. Perhaps their only one, actually.
Updated
63 min: Hull are playing some nice, intricate stuff, but do look at their most dangerous when they go route one to Mbokani, who is dominating Otamendi and Kolarov. Otamendi wins the header deep in his own penalty area, but Snodgrass picks up the second ball. The bouncing ball doesn’t quite sit down for him, and City eventually get numbers back. For a moment, it looked as though Hull’s best player had a free shot on goal from the penalty spot.
Hull make their first change: Huddlestone off, Mason on.
Updated
60 min: Either side could win this at present.
Updated
58 min: Sagna clears the ball off the line! From the Hull corner, the ball is headed skywards, and with Bravo in no-man’s land, Turner loops a header over the Chilean’s head, but Sagna skirts round and heads the ball clear, saving a certain goal.
57 min: Guardiola makes his second change: Nolito off, Iheanacho.
56 min: Mbokani wins his 4,672nd free-kick, this time in a threatening area just outside Manchester City’s penalty area. Snodgrass crashes a beautiful cross towards the penalty spot which is met by Davies, hits Kolarov and squirts just wide of Bravo’s post. That could have gone anywhere.
54 min: This is more like it.
Updated
De Bruyne hits the inside of the post!
53 min: That’s the closest we’ve come to breaking the deadlock. The Belgian receives the ball from Clichy on the left, shapes to bend the ball into the far right corner, but actually whips a shot low to the near post, catching Marshall off-guard. The ball cannons back off the post and across the goal to safety. That could have so easily hit Marshall on the back and gone in!
51 min: Mbokani is fouled again, this time simulatenously by Fernandinho and Otamendi who both slide in and miss the ball. Defending the set-piece, Manchester City play an outrageously high line and Snodgrass simply drops the ball in behind. Maguire is the first to meet it, but he can only volley the ball over Bravo’s bar. Not a million miles away!
49 min: Another Hull corner, which is a poor one, failing to beat the first man. But Snodgrass gets another chance to cross, and this time it hits Clichy on the arm, just outside the penalty area. Nothing given. It would have been a bit harsh, definitely ball to hand, which was tucked in.
47 min: Otamendi and Sagna get in each other’s way competing for a cross, the ball falling to Clucas, who absolutely leathers it goalwards – Sagna doing well to recover and block the ball behind.
Peeeeep! And we’re off again! No changes from either side. Max, keep ya money.
@michaelbutler18 I'll bet you anything that city will bring on Navas at half time
— max bertfield (@maxlbertfield) December 26, 2016
Updated
It is eight years to the minute since this happened on Boxing Day 2008 … Hull City were 4-0 down at the Etihad Stadium.
A REMINDER:
— footballreminder (@footballremind) September 11, 2016
Phil Brown gave his half time team talk on the pitch on Boxing Day 2008, he was sacked two months later pic.twitter.com/IwAJBnEz3g
“The game hasn’t been alight yet but the bovril is £2 a cup so swings and roundabouts eh?” emails Stuart Clarke. “Shout out to the kid who won the ‘hit the crossbar’ competition at half time, Hull should get him on for the second half.”
Did you get a free pie? Was it any good?
Half-time: Hull City 0-0 Manchester City
Phew. We made it.
“It’s amusing to see Guardiola struggle but the summer transfer business was poor and addressed none of his needs,” emails Tim Stappard.
Updated
45 min: Two minutes added on here.
Katy Smith: “Never wanted football updates but I put a bet on that Man City would win, so here I am.”
Thanks Katy.
Updated
44 min: More free-kicks! Be still, my beating heart. Touré clips Mbokani, who turned neatly away from the Ivorian. He’s been the best player on the pitch this half.
Updated
42 min: Hull City are edging up the pitch through the medium of free-kicks. First Otamendi clatters into Mbokani from behind. Next Nolito, who has had a miserable first half, handballs, allowing Snodgrass to float a ball into the Man City box. Well defended.
“Here in the USA, Lee Dixon gives us what must be the jape of the season,” writes John Cashman. “After Otamendi fouls Mbokani: “Otamendi should know better. So should his barber.”
Updated
41 min: An email! “Trying desperately to get a mention ,just Walked home on a cloud after seeing Man Utd , goal of the season , offside etc ,yeah yeah,cool country, lovely people.”
That’ll do, Paul. Cheers.
40 min: The game lurches into life. Clucas makes a late I’m-not-going-to-say-Lampard-esque run into the box but is unable to divert an excellent Elmohamady cross to the near post. He skews it wide, but at least it was something to watch and enjoy.
Next, Sterling works the ball out left for Man City, and Davies does well to cut out a cut-back from De Bruyne. The resulting corner misses everyone, bouncing inside the six yard box, and goes out for a goal kick.
Updated
39 min: I am also stuck at work.
@guardian_sport @michaelbutler18 @guardian loving the updates! Stuck in work but you guys are making me feel like I'm not missing much!
— Karl Handley (@MCFC_karl) December 26, 2016
@michaelbutler18 this game got me like I wish I were stuck at work
— rainNsunshine (@rainNsunshine) December 26, 2016
Updated
38 min: Sterling blazes a shot 20 yards over the bar.
Somebody send me an email. Let’s chat. michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet @michaelbutler18.
36 min: I miss Edin Dzeko. I miss Watford v Palace.
@michaelbutler18 I miss Manchester United-Sunderland
— sara_marques (@sara_marques) December 26, 2016
Here you go, Sara.
Updated
34 min: Occasionally we get something exciting like a free-kick. Or a camera shot of Guardiola pointing at something. Actually, Nolito just shot from 30 yards, which trickled into Marshall’s arms at a pace approaching a light Tom Huddlestone jog.
Updated
32 min: Ball goes wide, Hull City players close down space well, ball is recycled. Repeat.
30 min: Update: this is boring.
Updated
27 min: Stones is on the Man City bench, reportedly with an ice pack on his right knee. He looks very glum.
25 min: The reason that Kolarov was orginally going to replace Fernandinho, rather than replace an injured Stones, is a lack of penetration between the lines. Hull are compact and tight, and Kolarov’s passing from the back is generally excellent. Manchester City also don’t have an aerial threat up top, so they are loathe to cross the ball. Not sure what the plan B is here, to be honest.
23 min: Tempted to say that Hull are on top here. First Livermore stings the palms of Bravo, then Snodgrass floats a free-kick behind a very high defensive Man City line, which Kolarov eventually clears.
21 min: Mbokani is yet to score a goal in the eight matches since his loan move to Hull but he has made a good start to this game, holding the ball off well, chasing down lost causes. Mbokani holds off Otamendi and feeds Elmohamady, who whips a ball into the middle. Livermore, off-balance, loops a header at goal, which lands on top of the net. It was never bothering Bravo.
20 min: I’m not sure if Nolito has touched the ball yet. Silva tries his luck from range, but Marshall gets down well.
Updated
18 min: Sterling, meanwhile, has switched to the central striker, with De Bruyne drifting out onto the right to replace the former Liverpool man.
Updated
16 min: Kolarov is coming on! At first Fernandinho’s number is called, and the Brazilian starts to make his way off the field. But then John Stones collapses in a heap – he’s going to have to come off – and Guardiola gets fourth official Jon Moss to quickly change the number. So, Stones off, Kolarov on. Looks like a straight swap, with the Serbian slotting in at centre back.
15 min: Kolarov is getting stripped off on the sidelines. It doesn’t look like any Manchester City player is injured. Guardiola looks very fidgety.
13 min: Hull coming back into this now. Playing a 3-5-2, the full-backs (particularly Robertson) are growing in confidence and getting forward well.
11 min: Neat play from Robertson as he kills a diagonal pass and finds Mbokani. Snodgrass goes beyond the Congolese striker and only an excellent covering tackle from Clichy prevents Snodgrass from getting in on goal.
Updated
8 min: Right on cue, De Bruyne tries his luck from range, a fierce drive with his weaker left foot from outside the area. Well blocked from Davies, out for another corner. City take it short and it comes to nothing.
7 min: De Bruyne is going to score today. I can feel it.
6 min: Some action! De Bruyne receives the ball to feet and is clattered from behind by Turner. Free kick, which Touré dispatches to the top corner. It is postage-stamp stuff, but Marshall reads the flight well and tips the ball over for a corner.
5 min: Plenty of Manchester City passing, not a lot of penetration. Not a lot to report on, so here’s how City have got on in Boxing Days gone by.
#OnThisDay | #BoxingDay
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 26, 2016
0-1 v S. Utd 2006
5-1 v Hull 2008
2-1 v Stoke 2009
1-3 v NUFC 2010
2-1 v LFC 2013
1-3 v WBA 2014
4-1 v SAFC 2015 pic.twitter.com/qFT0bAUChp
3 min: Harry Maguire is a big boy isn’t he. Google says he is 6ft1in, but I don’t believe that for a second. Perhaps it’s the haircut.
1 min: Hull City pressing high. Bravo has already made three passes out from the back. Eventually Robertson and wins the ball after a poor pass from Touré. Good start from Hull City.
Peeeeeeep! And we’re off.
The teams are out! Let’s do this.
In their last away game, Manchester City went 4-0 down at Leicester City, before limping to a 4-2 defeat. Leicester allowed City to have possession and proved deadly on the counter-attack. However, Hull City are a team bereft of any pace. I can only see them scoring from a set-piece today.
Pep Guardiola has been speaking, coyly, to the cameras about who is going to play as a striker for Manchester City today.
Um … [large pause, wry smile]. Sometimes one, sometimes another. They are going to move and change.
Nolito is expected to start as the most advanced City player.
Updated
If you haven’t read this yet, do.
Leicester lost again today – in fact it’s been a good day for Hull in terms of other results: only one team in the bottom eight won.
Updated
For all the pessimism around Hull’s chances today, it is worth remembering how well they played in their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on the 17th December. They were utterly dominant away from home against Slaven Bilic’s side, and hit hit the post three times and squandered two one-on-ones in a wonderful display of passing and movement, before succumbing to a questionable penalty, converted by Mark Noble. Somehow Mbokani has retained his place in today’s line-up.
It is quite obvious that the players are still playing for Phelan, who will surely use the January transfer window to strengthen his side, particularly as the aforementioned Mbokani and Elmohamady depart for the African Cup of Nations. Hull are four points from safety, with a game in hand over Crystal Palace, going into this match: they are by no means dead and buried.
Updated
The last time we played away at Hull in the @premierleague, it was a 2-4 victory to City!!! What will tonight's score be? #hullvcity pic.twitter.com/dYkLw1vwux
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 26, 2016
The good news for Hull: Sergio Aguero (suspended) and Edin Dzeko (plays for Roma) are not playing today.
The bad news for Hull: Eliaquim Mangala, who scored an own goal and gave away a penalty, isn’t either.
Must be awful being injured/not manager of Hull City at Christmas …
Great day yesterday with the family! pic.twitter.com/HMJJLsE28h
— Alex Bruce (@AlexBruce84) December 26, 2016
The teams
£13m Ryan Mason on the bench … the same team that lost 1-0 at West Ham
Hull City: Marshall, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Clucas, Robertson, Snodgrass, Mbokani.
Subs: Meyler, Maloney, Jakupovic, Weir, Diomande, Henriksen, Mason.
No recognised striker in the starting XI.
Manchester City: Bravo, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito.
Subs: Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Iheanacho, Garcia.
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Updated
Preamble
Things could be going better at Hull City. They have won one league match since the second game of the season, their best player wants to leave, and today they play Manchester City, who are fed, watered and rested eight days after beating Arsenal.
Still there’s still something for fans to get excited about: today you can have a selfie with a couple of miserable-looking reindeer outside the KC Stadium, and once inside, there are 2,000 FREE PIES waiting, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
🦌 | Fresh from a busy Christmas Eve, our reindeers have now arrived! Come and have a picture with them near the footbridge at the West Stand pic.twitter.com/vpkGBGDVYT
— Hull City (@HullCity) December 26, 2016
🔶◾️ | The turnstiles are open! Don't forget we’re giving away 2,000 FREE pies – but hurry because when they’re gone, they’re gone! #HULMCI pic.twitter.com/Ic3M521o6T
— Hull City (@HullCity) December 26, 2016
It is 14 years to the day that Hull City played their first match at the KC Stadium, so why not stick your fingers in your ears, hum loudly and cast your mind back to yesteryear. There have been some fantastic memories at the KC. How about Hull City’s 3-0 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup quarter-final in 2014, their 4-1 battering of Watford in the play-off semi-final second leg to set up Windass’s Wembley heroices, or the an astonishing finale to the 2013 season, in which Paul McShane late equaliser against Cardiff City meant Hull pipped Watford to second place and their first promotion to the Premier League. Cue two pitch celebrations, the latter to ‘Celebration’ by Kool and the Gang.
Suddenly it’s a little bit harder to get excited pies and reindeer, or the thought of facing a line-up consisting of David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and co. But it’s Christmas, and miracles do happen.
Kick-off: 5.15pm GMT
Updated
