Manchester City solidified their grip on a place in the Premier
League's top four as Pep Guardiola's side took advantage of Hull City's
poor away form to claim a convincing 3-1 victory.
Despite taking time to get into their stride at a sun-soaked Etihad
Stadium, City all-but wrapped-up the points three minutes after
half-time when Sergio Aguero netted the hosts' 100th goal in all
competitions this term to put the them 2-0 up.
Eldin Jakupovic had been in fine form to keep the scores level early
on, though Hull had been undone prior to Aguero's effort by Ahmed
Elmohamady's 31st-minute own-goal.
Only Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea had won more points in 2017 than
Marco Silva's side heading into Saturday's clash, though the Tigers -
having clawed their way out of the relegation zone in midweek - never
looked likely to end their 14-match winless streak on the road.
And the result was duly put beyond all out just after the hour mark
when Fabian Delph fired in his first goal of the season, although
Claudio Bravo, making his first league start since January in an
error-strewn debut season at City, did allow a consolation effort from
Andrea Ranocchia to squeak in.
The victory extends the gap between City and fifth-placed Arsenal,
who face relegation-threatened Crystal Palace on Monday, to seven points
- while Hull remain two points above the drop zon
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