Manchester City have claimed a 4-1 victory over Hull City to book their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Wilfried Bony gave the Citizens an early lead with a simple finish after Kevin De Bruyne's powerful effort had struck the post.
It took the hosts until the final 10 minutes to wrap up the win, as Kelechi Iheanacho slotted in from Raheem Sterling's cross, before De Bruyne grabbed a quick-fire double.
Andrew Robertson scored a late goal for the Tigers in stoppage time, but it proved no more than a consolation as the Citizens kept alive their hopes of lifting the cup for the second time in three seasons.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! We're into the quarter-finals of the League Cup and a place at Wembley is now just three games away. Manchester City are seen by many as the favourites to win the trophy, but can Hull City pull of a shock at the Etihad this evening?
The stage is set! #cityvhull #mcfc pic.twitter.com/WkHEIGXw8N
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 1, 2015
The Citizens bounced back from their recent defeats to Liverpool and Juventus by beating Southampton at the weekend to return to the top of the Premier League. Their form in the cup has also been impressive and they have struck nine goals in their previous two outings in the competition.
Making the trip to the Etihad are a Hull side who have been enjoying a good start to the season as they look to win promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking. The Tigers had been on an 11-game unbeaten run in the league before a defeat against Derby County last Friday saw them slip down to fourth in the table.
Right, I think it's about time we have a look at the all-important team news and see which players will be lining up at the Eithad in this evening's clash.
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy, Delph, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, De Bruyne, Bony
HULL XI: Jakupovic, Odubajo, Bruce, Taylor, Maguire, Livermore, Akpom, Hayden, Aluko, Robertson, Elmohamady
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Wright, Humphreys, Demichelis, Kolarov, Garcia, Sterling, Iheanacho
HULL SUBS: McGregor, Huddlestone, Hernández, Snodgrass, Clucas, Maloney, Diame
So, the big news as far as Manchester City fans are concerned is the introduction of David Silva, who makes his first start for the club in almost two months. He captains the side and will join fellow Spaniard Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyne in supporting lone striker Wilfried Bony. Willy Caballero also continues in goal, with Joe Hart still ruled out.
Meanwhile, Hull have made seven changes to their side for this evening's match. Eldin Jakupovic, Alex Bruce, Ryan Taylor, Chuba Akpom, Andrew Robertson, Isaac Hayden and Sone Aluko are the players who return following their 2-0 defeat against Derby.
Well, the outright favourites to win the League Cup this season are Manchester City, who have seen many of their biggest rivals knocked out early on. Of course their main priority is to win the Premier League and enjoy a strong run in Europe, but another triumph in the tournament would be a welcome boost for the club.
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It is worth remembering that this is the first competition that Manuel Pellegrini won as manager of City, when his team came from behind to beat Sunderland in the final last March. They would later go on to win the Premier League following a dramatic title battle with Liverpool.
The Citizens have started their quest to reach another Wembley final in good form with two big wins in their opening matches. They began in the third round at the Stadium of Light with a thumping 4-1 win over Sunderland, and the goals continued to flow as they romped to a 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace last time out.
It is not just in the cup where they have thrived, as a 3-1 win over Southampton at the weekend moved them to the top of the Premier League alongside Leicester City. Things are also running smoothly for them in Europe, as they have already secured their progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Hoping to cause an upset this evening will be Hull City, who have been enjoying a good season in the Championship. With 18 games played in the current campaign they are fourth in the table and sit just three points behind league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion.
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They had actually been unbeaten in 11 league outings until they faced Derby County last Friday evening. A win would have kept them at the top of the league, but a first-half double from Jacob Butterfield subjected them to a 2-0 defeat and saw the Rams temporarily move to the Championship's summit.
Many will have already written off the Tigers' chances of winning at the Etihad, but they have already knocked out two Premier League teams in the competition this season. In the third round a goal from David Meyler was enough to see them past Swansea City, while they came from behind before eventually beating Leicester City in a penalty shootout in their last game.
Reaching the fifth round is already an achievement in itself for Hull, as they have never before made it this far in the League Cup. Their best-ever performance in a major domestic cup was in the FA Cup two seasons ago, when they surrendered a two-goal lead and were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal, in one of the greatest finals in history.
There is further hope for the fans of the visitors as they have drawn two of their previous four meetings with City at the Etihad. The most recent of those came in February, where James Milner struck a last-minute free kick for City to cancel out David Meyler's earlier attempt.
One of the most famous goal celebrations in Premier League history also happened in this fixture during a 1-1 draw in 2009. Jimmy Bullard had just scored a penalty to equalise late on for the visitors, and he celebrated by impersonating a team talk that manager Phil Brown had given on the same pitch a year before after the Tigers had suffered a 5-1 defeat.
FLASHBACK: Anyone remember this rather unforgettable @HullCity celebration at the Etihad Stadium? #MCIHUL pic.twitter.com/FRWX8joLyP
— Hull City (@HullCity) December 1, 2015
There are a couple of other League Cup ties taking place this evening, with Middlesbrough hosting Everton and Stoke City welcoming Sheffield Wednesday to the Britannia. The last match from the quarter-finals will take place at Anfield tomorrow, where Liverpool and Southampton will go head-to-head.
The two teams have just made their way out at the Etihad and we are now just three minutes away from the start of the match. You can also follow tonight's other games with our dedicated coverage, and of course we may well see the possibility of extra time and penalties.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Etihad!
As you would expect, City are seeing plenty of the ball and are dictating the tempo. They haven't yet been able to breach the Hull defence, though, with the visitors sitting back deep inside their own half.
We've only had five minutes on the clock, but Hull could easily be a man down. Jakupovic sprints off his line to try and get to a pass over the top ahead of De Bruyne, but it appears as though he touches the ball away from the Belgian with his hand. The contact looked to happen just outside the box, but it was not spotted by the officials, leaving Hull to escape a huge let off.
The Tigers have just not seen any of the ball in the opening stages of the game and it will be a long evening for them if things continue this way. City are patiently waiting for a chance to work the ball through their opponents' defence and you suspect that it won't take too much longer for them to fashion a decent opening.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Hull City (Wilfried Bony)
It's been a dominant start by City and they score with their first real opportunity of the game. De Bruyne almost finds the net with a low drive from outside the box that crashes against the post, but the rebound falls kindly to Bony, who has the simple task of slotting into an unguarded net to give his side the lead.
Within minutes of conceding Hull almost get in behind when Otamendi misreads a long ball and allows Aluko to steal possession just inside the box. However, the Argentine recovers well from his earlier mistake and manages to stop the striker before he can get the ball firmly under his control.
SHOT! This is a lot better from Hull, who break quickly and get plenty of men forward to support Akpom on the counter. The ball is eventually played to Hayden, who drives into space and fires in a powerful strike from range, but it is hit straight at Caballero, who makes a comfortable stop.
SHOT! Down the other end of the pitch it's City who threaten as Silva picks the ball up in space and threads a pass into the box for Delph. The midfielder then takes a good first touch to get the ball under his spell, before drilling a strike narrowly wide at the front post.
It's so simple for the hosts at the moment as they are being allowed to play the ball around with ease. There is very little pressure on the ball until they get to within the final third and the visitors are really struggling to get out of their own half.
I did just mention that Hull were struggling to get forward, but they do well to work the ball out to Aluko down the right-hand side. The forward then whips a decent cross into the box, but it is just too long for any of his teammates and is comfortably cleared by the hosts.
CHANCE! Hull are almost the makers of the own downfall as a poor ball from Livermore is seized upon by Bony. The striker then charges towards the edge of the box, before looking to place an effort into the corner, but his attempt lacks power and heads straight into the arms of the keeper.
Although the Citizens haven't created chances at will, you get the sense that they are always one good move away from scoring. They seem very comfortable with their one-goal lead, but I'm sure that Pellegrini will be hoping for his team to add a couple more goals to their tally to make things safe.
Clichy survives a let off for the hosts when he slips and is shrugged off the ball by Elmohamady deep inside his own half. However, the Hull man is deemed to have fouled the French defender, and a free kick is given much to the frustration of the away supporters.
Some of the movement from the hosts has been brilliant times this evening and De Bruyne combines well with Silva to get in down the left. He then pulls it across the box looking to find Bony, but Hull manage to get enough players back to clear just before the striker can pounce.
YELLOW CARD! Mangala is handed the first booking of the match for blocking off the run of Odubajo as the Hull man looked to charge past him.
CHANCE! Great chance for Hull to level the scores just before the break as Hayden slides a neat ball into the box looking for the run of Akpom. The Arsenal loanee then gets in front of his marker and fires in a low drive, but he doesn't catch the ball cleanly and it's an easy save for Caballero.
There will be just a minute added on to the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Hull City
The whistle blows for half time at the Etihad and it's Manchester City who are leading against Hull. A simple finish for Wilfried Bony is the difference between the teams, in a game that has been largely dominated by the Premier League side.
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Let's take a look at the key statistics from the first half. The Citizens were firmly in command and they saw a hefty 66% of the ball in the opening 45 minutes. However, they were only able to work five efforts on goal, with three hitting the target, while the visitors had three attempts in total, with two of those coming just before the break.
In tonight's other League Cup ties the teams from the Premier League are both ahead against their Championship opponents. Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu have given Everton a 2-0 lead over Middlesbrough at the Riverside, while Ibrahim Afellay's strike has seen Stoke head into the break 1-0 up against Sheffield Wednesday.
RESTART! Hull take the kick off for the second half and get the match back underway!
Mangala, who was booked in the final minutes of the first half, is almost in trouble again as he bundles down Akpom by the touchline. He is spared another yellow card by the referee, who just gives Hull a free kick, but the hosts comfortably deal with the resulting set piece.
This could be a huge blow for Manchester City, as Navas is down and looking in real pain. It seems as if he is having problems with his ankle, and after receiving treatment from the medical staff he hobbles over to the touchline.
I can tell you that Navas is back on the pitch and looking far better than he did a few moments ago. We will have to wait and see if his problem resurfaces, but I'm sure that if he is still struggling his manager won't take any chances.
Man City have just started to up the pressure once again and they force their opponents into giving away a couple of corners. However, the first is well defended by Maguire against Mangala, before the next set piece is cleared after being played short to De Bruyne.
CHANCE! The hosts are on the attack again and De Bruyne lets fly with a powerful drive from long range. His effort is beaten away to safety by the keeper, and his defence manage to clear it just in time as Bony looks to pounce on the loose ball.
SUB! Hull make their first change of the match, with Diame coming on to replace Taylor.
CLOSE! It's all Man City at the moment and another fine team move leads to a good chance for a second goal. The ball is worked down the left for Silva, who swings a cross into the box looking for Bony. The Ivorian can't quite get a shot away, but it lands perfectly to Navas behind him, who lashes in a powerful strike that brushes the outside of the post on its way behind.
SUB! The hosts are going to make a change of their own now, as Sterling is being brought on for Navas.
SHOT! De Bruyne has tried his luck from range a few times this evening and he goes for another powerful drive towards the far corner. His effort is dipping and takes a nasty bounce in front of Jakupovic, who is forced to touch the ball wide of the post, even though it appeared to be going behind anyway.
Even though the hosts are in control of this match, Hull are only a goal away from levelling things up. They show the danger that they still possess as Akpom is almost through on goal before Caballero rushes off his line to stop the striker from getting onto a threaded pass.
SUB! It's a second change of the match for Hull, who bring their top scorer Hernandez on for Akpom.
SUB! The hosts are also going to make another change, with goalscorer Bony coming on for Iheanacho, who starred in the victory over Crystal Palace in the last round.
SHOT! Silva has been in impressive form for City this evening and he almost caps it with a goal. The Spaniard collects a loose clearance just outside the box and drills in a powerful low effort that is sweetly struck, but ends up heading wide of the post.
SHOT! Once again Silva is heavily involved as he latches onto a ball inside the box and looks to lift a strike into the far corner. However, his attempt drifts a few yards wide of the far post, with Hull still not out of this one yet.
SUB! This is a big moment for Snodgrass, who comes on for Aluko to make his first appearance in 15 months following a knee injury.
YELLOW CARD! Maguire picks up a card from the referee for a foul on Iheanacho.
SAVE! How many more chances are City going to waste in this second half? Delph has their latest attempt on goal with a powerful shot on the turn from the edge of the box, but Jakupovic is down well to push the ball away from danger.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Hull City (Kelechi Iheanacho)
It's surely all over now as Iheanacho finds the back of the net to give City a two-goal cushion. The Nigerian makes a superb run into the box to meet Sterling's low cross and has the simple task of guiding the ball into the net from just a few yards out.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Hull City (Kevin De Bruyne)
De Bruyne has been one of the best players on the pitch this evening and he adds a third to end any lingering hopes that the visitors had of coming back. The Belgian latches onto a poor header back to his own goal by Robertson and keeps his composure to slide the ball past Jakupovic and into the net.
SUB! It's a final change for the Citizens and Silva receives a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch to be replaced by Demichelis.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Hull City (Kevin De Bruyne)
Manchester City are finishing with a flourish as they grab their fourth goal of the match and a third in the last seven minutes. This is very much the pick of the bunch, as De Bruyne fires in a brilliant free kick from just outside the box that sails past Jakupovic and a Hull defender covering on the line.
There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-1 Hull City (Andrew Robertson)
This is a great moment for the travelling supporters as their team grabs a consolation goal in added time. Robertson is the man who scores, as he exchanges passes with Hernadnez and bursts into the box, before tucking a neat effort beyond Caballero and into the far corner.
FULL-TIME: Manchester City 4-1 Hull City
It's all over here in Manchester, where the Citizens have booked their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup with an emphatic win over Hull. It took them a while to turn their dominance into goals, but a late flourish has continued their impressive run in this season's tournament.
Right, that's all from us this evening, where Manchester City, Everton and Stoke have all made it through to the last four in the Capital One Cup. Make sure you join us again tomorrow, as Liverpool and Southampton will battle it out for the last semi-final spot. Until then, goodbye!
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Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
