Hughes wants more as Blues lift

MANCHESTER CITY boss Mark Hughes felt his side had finally shown what they were capable of after destroying Hull yesterday.

Hughes’ men produced a superb attacking performance to leap out of the relegation zone with a 5-1 win.

Brazilian star Robinho was outstanding and hit two goals after Felipe Caicedo had set up victory with an early double of his own.

Craig Fagan netted a late consolation for the outclassed Tigers but the magnificent Stephen Ireland reasserted the hosts’ dominance with their fifth.

The victory eased the pressure on Hughes, who challenged his players to deliver more consistently.

The former Blackburn boss, who faces his old side tomorrow at Ewood Park (4.15pm), said: “We needed to get our noses in front, that settled us and from then onwards some of our attacking play was as good as we have produced this year. Now we have to do that from this point onwards.’’

While the gloom starts to lift at Eastlands, the defeat will cast a shadow over Hull. Phil Brown’s side have now conceded nine goals in their past two games. Brown was embarrassed enough by his side’s first-half capitulation to deliver some of his half-time talk on the field and his players received more harsh words afterwards. Brown said: “It was an unacceptable performance and I am bitterly disappointed.”

MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards (Onuoha 46), Ball, Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Fernandes 85), Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo (Jo 46).

HULL: Myhill, Mendy, Zayatte, Turner, McShane, Boateng (Doyle 34), Geovanni (Cousin 70), Ashbee, Marney, Windass (Fagan 46), King.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).