Manchester City End Winless Run With A Comfortable Victory Over Hull City

Manchester City ended a four-game winless run in the Premier League with a comfortable victory over Hull City on Saturday that boosted their hopes of finishing in a Champions League spot.

Ahmed Elmohamady's own goal opened the scoring before half time at Etihad Stadium, as the Hull defender turned in Jesus Navas' dangerous low cross.

Raheem Sterling's jinking run then set up Sergio Aguero and the Argentine's powerful effort squeezed past Eldin Jakupovic.

The Hull goalkeeper had no chance from City's third, with Fabian Delph allowed time and space to lash in from outside the box.

Andrea Ranocchia did pull one back late on, as Claudio Bravo let a weak effort trickle past him.

Pep Guardiola's side went into this one having not tasted victory in the league since a trip to Sunderland on 5 March.

With that four-game winless run seeing them drop points against top-five opposition in Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, the Spaniard wrote off their chances of competing for the title.

And with Champions League qualification now his focus, Guardiola would have been a relieved man when Elmohamady turned the ball into his own net after some resolute defending from Hull in the first half hour.

They could and should have added to their tally with both David Silva and Leroy Sane being denied by Jakupovic, while Yaya Toure and Delph again went close.

The hosts were always in control, enjoying 67% of the possession, but at times they looked fragile at the back and only an Oumar Niasse mis-kick stopped the visitors from levelling almost immediately after the opener.