Manchester City rallied in the final quarter of the match to earn a 3-0 win over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.
The contest had been delicately poised up until that point, with the Citizens rattling the post but their opponents also seeing a shot cleared off the line.
Yaya Toure opened the scoring from the spot 72 minutes in, however, before Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to add a second and Curtis Davies put into his own net from the final meaningful kick of the game.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Hull City and Manchester City at the KCOM Stadium. This evening Boxing Day fixture brings together two teams at opposite ends of the table, as the hosts currently prop up the division while opponents Man City are now back on track and have top spot in their sights over the festive period.
It is already turning out to be an exciting afternoon of Premier League action on what is one of the highlights of the footballing season, but the Citizens could be 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea come kickoff in this one. Updates from all the 3pm full times to come, as well as confirmed team news, though before that let us first check out Hull and Man City's seasons to date in a little more depth.
The Tigers head into this one sitting at the foot of the table following a disappointing run of form stretching back a good few months now. City shocked many with their hugely impressive start to the campaign, remember, when winning their first two games and pushing Manchester United all the way to see their perfect start come to an end. Since then it is fair to say that result have gone progressively downhill, bar the odd positive result.
It is just the one win in their last 15 outings since the opening month of the campaign; that sole victory coming against Southampton here In early November. Prior to a ball being kicked this afternoon, Hull found themselves three points adrift of safety and that gap appears likely to only open up further the way things are heading, with Crystal Palace now in the safe hands of survival expert Sam Allardyce and Sunderland also finding some consistency earlier this month under David Moyes to climb off the bottom.
The results do not quite tell the whole story, however, as the 1-0 defeat to West Ham United last weekend really was a harsh one to take. The Tigers should have been a couple ahead at one point, hitting the frame of the goal on a few separate occasions and eventually being undone by a questionable penalty decision. Prior to that, the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace here really did have it all – with Robert Snodgrass's dive among the biggest talking points post-match – but even that was a tad harsh due to the late nature of the Eagles' late leveller.
Looking a little further ahead, Hull have an extremely tough few weeks to come at the end of January/ beginning of February, as they face Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal away, as well as Liverpool at home – three points from that run will surely be seen as a positive outcome. It is a case of getting points on the board between now and then for Mike Phelan and his men, then, although that is easier said than done when title chasers Man City come visiting this evening.
The big question at this point is whether Phelan will be backed in the transfer market in a little over a week's time, with this Hull squad desperately requiring new additions – as was apparent in the summer. The off-field issues will play a large part in that, with the club's controversial owners still looking to offload, but at this stage Phelan – who it must be said has gone about his business in an exemplary manner – is not expecting to bring in any major additions. Six players did sign new contracts last week, though, so it is not all bad.
DID YOU KNOW? Hull City have won just one of their last 15 games, failing to keep a single clean sheet during that run, while their tally of 14 goals scored is a league low. Only fellow strugglers Swansea City (37) had conceded more prior to this latest round of matches, meanwhile, showing that improvement is not just required in one area of the pitch but instead all over.
Hull have also conceded the first goal on a league-high 14 occasions so far this term, perhaps explaining their troubles to collect three points, doing so just three times in all. Phelan will also have known when tucking into his Christmas dinner yesterday afternoon that only three of their 24 teams bottom on December 25 have gone on to stay up, so things looking bleak to say the least for the Tigers, but one positive result today and all of a sudden then are on the brink of safety.
It has been a tough start to Premier League management for Mike Phelan, who was always going to have a difficult task on his hands when taking over from Steve Bruce during the summer. A squad devoid of major quality and a lack of big-name arrivals, the Tigers' shock start to the campaign – taking six points from six and pushing Manchester United all the way – has soon levelled out and they have since won one of their last 15 in the top flight.
The picture is not quite as bleak for visitors Man City, it is fair to say, but it has hardly been a stellar few months for Pep Guardiola and his charges. The Citizens started the day in third place, narrowly above Arsenal but below Liverpool and leaders Chelsea in what could well be one of the most exciting races for the title. That is if Chelsea slip-up, at least, as the Blues are determined to run away with it at a cantor after going a few months without dropping a single point. More of that and they deserve it, but one slip-up and three teams are waiting in the wings to pounce.
The mood is certainly a lot brighter now compared to a couple of weeks ago, however, as the Citizens have managed to get things just about on track thanks to successive league wins. The victory over Watford at the Etihad Stadium was hardly the stuff of champions in terms of the performance, although I am sure every home fan in the ground that evening would have happily taken the three points - and thus a return to winning ways – no matter what it took. That was followed up by three points against Arsenal last weekend – another massive victory.
That triumph over Arsenal really was huge, coming in a game that saw them fall behind and their fans start to become more than a little restless. City have still lost just the three games this season, though – the same amount that Hull have won – suggesting that, while Guardiola is still chopping and changing things at a frantic pace, his players are proving tough to beat. It was the home draws against Everton, Southampton and Middlesbrough that have cost City, with those three home stalemates in succession leaving them seven points adrift at this stage.
The perfect 10 to start the season seems like a long time ago now, yet a similar run as we hit the mid-point of the campaign will put them right back in the mix. The most damaging aspect of the poor run of form recently could well just be the exit from the EFL Cup at the hands of rivals Man United – even that is far from a disaster. Still in the Champions League and with the FA Cup yet to get going for Premier League sides, it will be all systems go for Guardiola & Co. In the coming weeks. For now, all that matters is three points on Humberside this evening.
City boast one of the best away records in the division, so far fairing better away from home than at the Etihad Stadium itself. They have managed to keep just the one clean sheet so far, however, which does not bode all that well with a truly massive trip to Anfield to come on New Year's Eve – a match that could essentially rule the Citizens out of the title race even at this early stage should Chelsea come out of their two winnable home fixtures unscathed as expected. Alternatively, nine points from nine for City and all of a sudden the pressure is on the Blues when they face Tottenham Hotspur in North London next week.
Much has been made of City's rather poor record of clean sheets, but it is worth pointing out that they have conceded just three goals from set pieces all term despite those defensive worries – the best such record in the top flight. Guardiola played down suggestions that he is looking to bring in a new defender in the January window, but he did say that he will move should the "right player" become available, which will most likely be in the ageing full-back areas of the pitch.
Guardiola is arguably the most exciting manager to have ever plied his trade in the Premier League; his style of play clear to see even if results have not been all that consistent since the hugely impressive opening couple of months of his tenure in Manchester. A league-high average possession count of 63% shows that what he is trying to pull off is indeed working, however, so if another run of wins follows in quick succession over the Christmas and New Year period the critics will soon disappear out of sight – until things go wrong again, that is!
Hull City have won only one of the previous eight Premier League meetings between these two sides, earning three draws in that time but failing to keep a single clean sheet. The teams have met once before on Boxing Day – a memorable 5-1 win for the Citizens in a game now best remembered for Phil Brown's on-pitch team talk at half time. Hull have played in Manchester on three of their previous four December 26 fixtures, in fact.
With kickoff at the KCOM Stadium now a little over 20 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Mike Phelan: "I think they are an excellent team, the Premier League is a high-pressure league but they are exceptional. At times you have your ups and downs but I think that's normal, whether you are Pep or myself. We have to approach the game the same way as we've approached the last half a dozen games. Hopefully we can get some results."
Pep Guardiola: "I spoke to David Silva, with some players, and they gave me good advice about what it means to play on Boxing Day at Hull. What I learn in my short time here is the gap between the first 10 teams and last 10 is not that big. Other people said before I came here how complicated all the games are, so I am not expecting easy games."
Guardiola, like a fair few managers this year, is to be given his first taste of festive football in England this afternoon, then – a testing time for players and staff alike, as they prepare for three games in a week. Nothing too exhausting about that – they have played three games in seven days for much of the season – but two of those matches come with little rest either side of the New Year so preparation is very limited. Not ideal when one of those fixtures is against your closest rivals in the table in Liverpool!
Phelan confident that results will soon start to turn in his side's favour, meanwhile, although it is asking a lot for that run to start with victory against an "exceptional" Man City side today. Phelan has been very impressive in terms of how he has gone about his business so far, refusing to criticise referees too much and instead focusing only on the factors that he can influence. The neutrals will want him and Hull to stay up but, bottom of the table and three points adrift at the start of play, things do not look too good at this point.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola gets his first taste of festive football this evening against bottom-placed Hull City. This is very much an away banker for a large majority of those putting a few quid on matches this weekend, with the meeting against Liverpool in five days the one more likely to split people down the middle. Stranger things have happened, though, and this day of all days does tend to throw up the odd surprise.
TEAM NEWS!
HULL CITY XI: Marshall; Elmohamady, Davies, Dawson, Maguire, Robertson; Huddlestone, Livermore, Snodgrass, Clucas; Mbokani
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo; Stones, Otamendi, Sagna, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Silva, Sterling, Nolito; De Bruyne
Time to check out some team news now and, starting with the visitors, Guardiola has taken the decision to field Kevin De Bruyne as his lone striker at the KCOM Stadium this evening. Nolito is one of four players to be brought back into the fold from last weekend's narrow win over Arsenal, providing attacking support for De Bruyne alongside Raheem Sterling and David Silva.
Fernandinho is also back in central midfield following his recent three-game suspension, although Sergio Aguero again misses out as his ban was extended by a match following a prior dismissal earlier in the campaign. It is at the back where Guardiola has, unsurprisingly going by his five months or so in English football so far, rung the changes as John Stones and Bacary Sagna both return in defence.
Leroy Sane, Fernando, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov are the men to make way for the Citizens, with Sane missing out on the matchday squad altogether. Zabaleta is understood to have been carrying a knock and was expected to undergo a late fitness test, so no risks taken there with Sagna instead slipping into that full-back berth. De Bruyne up top is the headline news; the Belgian aiming to add to his league-high nine assists so far this season.
Phelan has opted to go with an unchanged XI, meanwhile, which is not too surprising judged on Hull's performance at the London Stadium. Robert Snodgrass in particular will be a threat to that changed City backline this evening, having been involved in exactly half of the Tigers' 14 goals this term - scoring five and setting up a further two. The Scotsman is one of six City players to have had his contract extended this week.
Abel Hernandez, another to have his terms extended, is out until January following a hernia operation, so Dieumerci Mbokani continues to lead the line at the KCOM Stadium for this evening Boxing Day tussle. The only other debate for Phelan was whether Ryan Mason would come back into the fold following his recent injury issues, though he has been made to settle for a place on the bench, while Josh Tymon misses out.
BENCH WATCH!
HULL CITY SUBS: Jakupovic, Meyler, Maloney, Weir, Diomande, Henriksen, Mason
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Fernando, Garcia, Kolarov, Navas, Iheanacho
Both teams are now out on the field of play at the KCOM Stadium, with kickoff now just a couple of minutes away. Following the conclusion of the 3pm kickoffs, Man City find themselves 10 points adrift of runaway leaders Chelsea, while Hull are now four points from safety at the foot of the table. A mixed afternoon at the bottom, but the Tigers ultimately have ground to make up.
KICKOFF! We are up and running on Humberside, where both teams are sporting their traditional home strips. Hull instantly looking to make the most of what is a shaky Man City backline, but the visitors remain strong early on.
No great surprise to see the visitors dominate possession, but Hull not purely sitting back and they are showing early on that they are prepared to go face-to-face with their opponents, who have showed of late that they are there to be beaten.
SAVE! Dawson goes right through the back of De Bruyne, but it is just a talking to from referee Bobby Madley. Toure lines up the free kick from 25 yards out, which Marshall does well to help over the crossbar with a strong hand.
Good pressure high up the pitch from Hull, who are not allowing Man City to pass out from the back at the moment. Just one of the bottom eight sides picked up all three points this afternoon, so huge incentive for the Tigers to make up some ground.
Sterling's run opens up some ground for De Bruyne, who does not need a second invitation to take on the shot from range. A deflection helped it wide of goal, however, and the hosts were then able to comfortably keep the next delivery out.
Well after a decent enough start from Man City, it is the hosts who have looked the more composed over the past few minutes. Still yet to see an attempt of any note from the Tigers, while the Citizens' best chance came via a Toure free kick.
De Bruyne picks out Silva, who in turn was denied by Huddlestone inside the box. The Citizens are just starting to turn the screw a little, although an early change is imminent as Kolarov is stripped and ready to enter the fray...
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Aleksandar Kolarov is on for John Stones with a little over 15 minutes on the clock. Fernandinho was the man who came across to be replaced, but Stones went to ground and City had to quickly change things.
That initial decision to replace Fernandinho must have been tactical, because he is happy to continue now that Stones has made way. Far from ideal for the visitors, who just cannot seem to get a settled back four - or five - in place.
SAVE! Dawson fails to close down Silva, who takes on the shot from a little over 20 yards out. It was a tame effort in the end, which Marshall easily got behind to collect. Up the other end, Livermore headed over when picked out in the box.
A well-balanced game so far, then. Man City are the more dangerous when attacking but we have seen very little from them in that sense, bar a couple of shots from range which Marshall has managed to keep out in a fairly routine manner.
SAVE! Fernandinho is not quick enough to close down Livermore, instead standing off his man and allowing the Englishman to blast a shot down the middle for Bravo to collect. The Tigers the side now on top in this Boxing Day contest.
An extremely high defensive line from Man City, but it worked on this occasion as they deal with a delivery into the area. A goal for the visitors would be welcome right about now, as they are struggling to get any real foothold on things.
Man City attempt to play their way in behind the Hull defence, but the final pass is overhit and it goes out for a corner. A lack of aerial height is forcing them to pass to feet inside the box, which so far is not really working.
A quiet spell in the game now, with Man City attempting to shift out of first gear still. John Stones's injury was down to an earlier knock, incidentally - the Englishman now back on the bench with an ice pack on his right knee.
It has been a flat contest for large parts, but we have at least had a few shots on target. Two of those have come at Hull's end of the field, with Marshall keeping out Toure and Silva, while Bravo was on hand to thwart Livermore.
SAVE! Man City are slowly racking up the shots on target, but this was another weak attempt. Nolito rather dragged his long-range attempt, which Marshall barely had to move to keep out down low. All very simple for the hosts so far.
All very patient from Guardiola's side in the final third, but it is getting them nowhere fast. Still two thirds of the game to go, but at this rate we are in store for a stalemate - the Citizens just unable to find some creativity.
So frustrating from Sterling, who decides to take on a shot from around 25 yards out when seeing space open up. This latest attempt was well wide of the target, though, earning some sarcastic cheers from the home supporters in attendance.
Hull get bodies forward and the visitors look to capitalise by breaking forward. A cross into the box was well cleared at the front post, however, with the subsequent corner also coming to very little in what has been a flat first half.
Snodgrass gets in behind Clichy for pretty much the first time today and sends in a cross for Clucas inside the box. Otamendi does very well to cover, though, getting to the ball first and conceding just a corner for his side.
Some more good play from Man City, as Sterling drifts inside and slips the ball through for Nolito towards the left. The Spaniard saw his cross cut out when he really should have been looking up and picking out another player in blue.
Man City defend one free kick into the box but quickly concede another when Nolito raised his boot a little too high. That was also defended with ease, so it looks as though we will go into the interval at the KCOM Stadium goalless.
HALF TIME: HULL CITY 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY
A goalless first half at the KCOM Stadium, then, with chances very much kept to a minimum. Claudio Bravo and David Marshall did have saves to make at either end of the field, but neither side deserved to really edge ahead at the end of what has been a flat opening 45 minutes.
The closest the visitors came to a first-half breakthrough arrived just a few minutes in, as Yaya Toure sent a free kick towards the top corner for David Marshall to help over the crossbar. Man City were dealt a blow less than 15 minutes in when John Stones picked up a knock and had to be replaced, only going to further disrupt a backline that had again shown a couple of changes from last time out.
The first half never truly got going but both sides did have half-chances to edge in front, with Jake Livermore heading over from eight yards out before being denied by Claudio Bravo, while David Silva was thwarted by David Marshall from further out. Nolito was the next to try his luck from the edge of the area, again sending a tame attempt down low for Marshall to comfortably keep out.
Just looking at some half-time stats, Man City have dominated possession and have also played 97% of their passes short. That says an awful lot, as they have been reluctant to cross the ball so far with De Bruyne their main focal point. The visitors yet to get out of first gear, in truth, while Hull have had their moments but have largely had to sit back and defend.
Guardiola was forced into an early change when bringing on Kolarov for he injured John Stones. The Spaniard needs to find answers at the break, but will he turn to his bench again? Kelechi Iheanacho is the obvious choice at this stage - the only proven attacker in the Citizens' ranks.
HULL CITY SUBS: Jakupovic, Meyler, Maloney, Weir, Diomande, Henriksen, Mason
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Fernando, Garcia, Navas, Iheanacho
RESTART! Hull City get us back up and running on Humberside, looking to see out the next 45 minutes against title chasers Manchester City. No changes made by either manager at the break, so it is as you were.
Sterling gets the better of Robertson and sends in a half-decent cross, which Marshall appeared to claw away. No sky blue shirts around, regardless, which Guardiola will not be pleased to see with his side chasing a goal at the KCOM Stadium.
Good start to this second half as, following that Sterling cross at one end, Hull themselves get forward and come close through Clucas. The midfielder peeled away at the back post but saw his shot blocked narrowly wide of the target.
A shot for a Hull penalty, as Snodgrass sends in an outside-of-the-boot cross for Clichy to block. It did appear to hit the Frenchman on the hands but it would have been incredibly harsh had referee Bobby Madley awarded that.
Half a chance for Maguire, who made the most of Man City's bizarre high line and volleyed over from eight yards out. A more prolific player may well have buried that one, but it fell to the wrong man at the wrong time for the Tigers.
OFF THE POST! De Bruyne is so, so close to giving Man City a vital breakthrough, as his curler towards the near post came back off the upright. Right on the edge of the box, the Belgian only had one thing in his mind and Marshall would have been beaten had it been just an inch the other way.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Guardiola has made his second alteration of the evening, bringing on Iheanacho for Nolito with a little over a third of the game still to play. That was the obvious change to make - not a moment too soon, either!
Hearts in mouths moment for the travelling Man City fans, as a free kick into the box causes real problems. It appeared to come off Zabaleta last and just trickle past the post, with the Tigers now really turning up the pressure.
OFF THE LINE! Hull's turn to come within inches of opening the scoring, this time after Sagna got back to head Dawson's effort off the line. The Tigers looking good value for a breakthrough goal, though their failure to capitalise may well act as a springboard for their opponents to push on.
Hull are actually edging the possession count in this second half, summing up the hosts' troubles. Never mind failing to pick up a victory - Man City are struggling to even hold on for a point at this stage. Guardiola does not have too many other options, either.
HULL CITY SUB! Tom Huddlestone is replaced by Ryan Mason for the Tigers. A smart move by Phelan, who is looking to add some fresh legs in the middle of the pitch as we fast approach the final quarter of the game.
SHOT! A superb first touch from De Bruyne sets him for the shot around eight yards out, but he failed to wrap his boot around the ball and instead sent his attempt wide of the target. A sign that the Citizens may be about to step things up.
SAVE! Mbokani pulls back on Kolarov when aiming to get goal side of his man. Hull giving this all they have, but with 20 minutes left the Citizens do appear to be grabbing a little more of a foothold on the match. A thrilling finale awaits, as Iheanacho's back-post attempt is blocked by Marshall.
PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY! A big, big moment in this match as Sterling cuts inside and is felled by Robertson. An easy decision for referee Bobby Madley to make, and now a glorious chance for Toure to open the scoring.
GOAL! HULL CITY 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (YAYA TOURE, PEN)
No mistake made by Toure, who waited for Marshall to dive before placing the ball in the opposite corner. Henriksen brought on before the game back under way, with Livermore the man to make way. The onus now on the hosts to find a goal.
GOAL! HULL CITY 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY (KELECHI IHEANACHO)
The inevitable has happened, as Man City capitalise on gaps at the back to add a second soon after opening the scoring. A swift counter was rounded off by Silva squaring the ball for Iheanacho, who did the rest to continue his impressive goals-per-minute ratio.
HULL CITY SUB! A final alteration made by the hosts, who bring on Adama Diomande for Sam Clucas. One final roll of the dice for Phelan, who has again seen his team put up a brave performance but fall just short.
YELLOW CARD! Substitute Ryan Mason a tad unfortunate to be cautioned for his challenge on Raheem Sterling. Now into the final eight minutes and this one is as good as over, unless Hull produce a real festive miracle on Humberside.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! David Silva, who has added to his impressive tally of assists with that second goal for his side, is replaced by Fernando for the final stages. Second place beckons for the visitors, seven points off Chelsea.
Ultimately, it is a decent result for Man City, who for so long looked as though they were going to be on the end of a shock defeat. Sagna's header off the line really was pivotal, however, and they then recovered to score two in quick succession.
Phelan must now go back to the drawing board, then, with his side picking up just the one win in 16 league outings now. Man City have five days to recover for their mammoth meeting with Liverpool at Anfield, meanwhile, in what should be a thriller.
SHOT! Hull win themselves a free kick, which Snodgrass sends right down the middle for Bravo to comfortably get behind. Just the three minutes of added time to come at the KCOM Stadium, so this one really is over now.
GOAL! HULL CITY 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (CURTIS DAVIES, OG)
Sterling does well to stand his ground and blasts in a dangerous cross, which deflects off the shins of Davies and past the reach of Marshall. That will likely be the final meaningful action of the game, with just seconds left to play.
FULL TIME: HULL CITY 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY
Referee Bobby Madley blows for full time, ensuring that Manchester City move back up to second in the Premier League table with a 3-0 victory over Hull City. The scoreline does not tell the whole story, however, as for three-quarters of this match it was very well balanced, with the Citizens doing enough in the final 20 minutes to pull away and earn the win.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage from this exciting day of Boxing Day football in the Premier League. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reports from all the day's other top-flight matches are available here. Thanks for joining!
