Manchester City 4-1 Hull City – Pellegrini thoughts

City drew first blood after 12 minutes, as Wilfried Bony tapped into an empty net from 12-yards out, after Kevin De Bruyne’s low effort crashed against the upright.

The scoreline did flatter Manchester City, with three of their four goals being scored in a seven minute period late in the second-half, but can the Tigers put that all behind them when they travel to face Leeds on Saturday?

Aguero could not make it to Tuesday’s Capital One quarter-finals clash against Hull City, which Manchester City won 4-1.

With a little over half an hour to go and the Tigers tantalisingly still in the game despite being a goal down, Bruce replayed Taylor with Mo Diame, knowing an opportunity to level was still within his side’s grasp.

By half-time it was slightly surprising Manuel Pellegrini’s side, with David Silva making his first start in nearly two months, had not built on that goal.

Chuba Akpom and Sone Aluko left a loose ball for each other, allowing De Bruyne to take up possession before rifling a left-footed shot off the base of the near post. We can switch virtually the whole 11 players and it would still be a top team.

“Of course the team played better with him”, Pellegrini said.

Fabian Delph had a golden chance to secure the victory, drilling straight at Jakupovic after turning well from Silva’s pass, but City promptly killed off the tie with two goals in two minutes. Kelechi Iheanacho also chipped in, turning Raheem Sterling’s cross into the goal in the 80th minute.

“I have to stay true to these players if I’ve said: ‘Well, you’ll get your chance in the cup if you’re not playing on the Saturday'”.

And Sterling, 20, believes he can learn from the ginger magician as he added: “He’s someone I work with every day and someone I get on really well with”.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez told Sky Sports: “It is a terrific feeling to get through to the semi-final and a good memory for our football club”.

“We’ve been punished and that’s the lesson you take – you get punished for any mistake you make against the big boys and you don’t get bigger than them”.

Bruce could point out he made 10 changes in the previous round when Hull eliminated Leicester on penalties and, overall, he was entitled to think they acquitted themselves reasonably well for an hour.

Origi, who joined from Lille on a permanent basis last summer, was also handed a rare start and the Belgium worldwide responded by scoring the third goal before halftime and adding more in the 68th and 86th.