Manuel Pellegrini Makes the Right Adjustments as Manchester City See off Hull

HULL, England — Manchester City threw away a two-goal lead before rallying in the second half to beat Hull 4-2 in an absorbing contest at the KC Stadium. It’s a result that means City remain five points behind leaders Chelsea, who beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. 

Led by a rampaging Sergio Aguero, who looked sharper than he has since January in the early stages, City found themselves 2-0 up after 11 minutes. Aguero scored the opener, a first-time volley into the corner of the net, before his striker partner, Edin Dzeko, curled a wonderful strike past Allan McGregor that left the Scotland man with no chance.

Hull looked shellshocked, with City faster to every ball and camped inside the home side’s half. But City, as is so often the case, do things the hard way, and 2-0 soon became 2-2. Eliaquim Mangala, a player who had impressed in his first two appearances for the club, headed into his own goal after great work by Ahmed Elmohamady down the right. Then, Mangala gave away a penalty, dispatched expertly by Abel Hernandez. It was the Uruguayan’s second consecutive home goal after his £10 million move from Palermo.

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Mangala appeared to suffer a loss of confidence after his nightmare 10 minutes, but at just 23 and making only his third appearance in English football, it’s perhaps understandable. Indeed, City fans may have to be patient with their new defensive recruit. His raw attributes—an unbelievable turn of pace and exceptional upper-body strength—could well see him go on to be one of the best defenders in Europe, but his concentration and distribution from the back will need time to flourish.

Hull were undoubtedly the team on the front foot at the end of the first half, but City improved after the break. Yaya Toure, who has faced criticism for his performances so far this season, showed flashes of his marauding best, hitting a post from distance with a wonderful shot.  

Hull, though, were keeping City at bay until a piece of tactical brilliance from City manager Manuel Pellegrini turned the screw for his side. Fernandinho was withdrawn and Jesus Navas brought on, allowing David Silva a free role behind the front two.

It was a bold, attacking move, but just two minutes after Navas’ introduction, City were ahead 3-2, Dzeko scoring with a lovely finish from a difficult angle after Silva’s set up. With a lead re-established, Pellegrini then withdrew Aguero, who by this stage appeared to be struggling with an injury, and brought on Frank Lampard to firm things up in the midfield.

City suddenly looked tighter, more capable of seeing out the game, and so it proved. Their midfield solidity returned and Lampard added another, the final goal in what was a wonderfully entertaining match, finishing off a brilliant move from City that saw Pablo Zabaleta square the ball unselfishly for the on-loan midfielder who bagged his fourth in three games.

What many felt would end up being a loan move of little purpose looks set to be an altogether different affair, with the chances of Lampard extending his stay increasing with every game he plays.

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City have now scored 11 goals in their last two matches, and after a difficult set of league fixtures they can now look forward to a run of more winnable games.

Afterwards, Pellegrini said he felt the changes were important, and praised Mangala for his second-half display.

He said:

"

I think it was important because we needed to work both wings with Milner and Jesus. We were drawing that moment 2-2, so we had to rake a risk leaving Yaya alone in his position, with Navas and Milner on both wings, and David [Silva] behind both strikers. We had to take some risks in some moments. 

I think that own goal made Mangala be a little bit nervous, he made that penalty, but after that I think after he calmed down at half time and played very well in the second half, with a yellow card, which is not easy.

"

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In the corresponding fixture last season, a 2-0 win after being reduced to 10 men early on, City reduced Chelsea’s lead to six points and kick-started City's title challenge—a pivotal moment in their success.

Pellegrini, whose second-half tactical alterations and substitutions were vital in securing the win, will be hoping this result has a similar effect to the one in March.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.