Manchester City vs. Hull City: Winners and Losers from Capital One Cup

Manchester City cruised into the last four of the Capital One Cup with a 4-1 quarter-final victory over Hull City on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium.

Wilfried Bony fired the hosts ahead in the 12th minute, and City added three goals in the second half to seal the win. Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho made it 2-0 in the 80th minute before Kevin De Bruyne bagged a late brace.

Andy Robertson scored a consolation for Hull in second-half stoppage time.

"We only had 72 hours to recover [from the 3-1 league win over Southampton]," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, per BBC Sport. "So it was a very good answer from all the squad."

Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.

Winner: David Silva

Jon Super/Associated Press

He did not put his name on the scoresheet, but David Silva was undoubtedly the star of the match.

Back in the starting lineup after missing nine games through injury, Silva was his magical self, pulling the strings in midfield with a wide range of clever passing. He constantly created danger as City mounted attack after attack against Hull's packed defense, and when he departed in the second half for substitute Martin Demichelis, he had already done enough to earn man-of-the-match honors.

At the Manchester Evening News, Rob Pollard noted:

"

(Silva) made his return from a nine-game absence with a short cameo against Southampton at the weekend, but it wasn’t enough time for him to show his true quality. Tonight, he’s looking to get on the ball as much as possible and dictate the pace and direction of the game, and he’s hardly lost the ball so far. He’s a pleasure to watch.

"

As Silva continues to work toward full match fitness, he'll only grow further in importance to his side's fearsome attack. A player of his quality is impossible to replace, even for a club as blessed with superstars as Manchester City.

Winner: Kevin De Bruyne

Jon Super/Associated Press

Whether he scores goals or assists his teammates, Kevin De Bruyne has an unstoppable look to him at the moment.

On Tuesday night, the Belgian scored two more, bringing his tally to nine in all competitions with Manchester City. That's impressive enough, but he's also assisted six goals in the Premier League, a superb tally in its own right.

According to Opta Joe, De Bruyne has been involved in 13 goals at the Etihad this season (six scored, with seven assists). Such production makes him worth every penny of his massive £51 million transfer fee.

Winners: Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Sergio Aguero missed out Tuesday night with an injury, but Manchester City hardly suffered. Both Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho scored goals, underlining City's strength in depth at striker.

Bony opened the scoring in the 12th minute, coolly finishing on the rebound after Kevin De Bruyne had struck the post with a low shot. Though it initially appeared to be a tap-in, the finish was deceptively simple. 

First, Bony had to beat Hull defender Moses Odubajo to the ball. Then he had to tuck his finish inside the near post from a tight angle. He did so with apparent ease, stroking his show in with cool professionalism.

Iheanacho, meanwhile, reminded City of his blossoming skills with another well-taken strike. Positioning himself perfectly in the middle, the youngster finished from close range from Raheem Sterling's cross.

At just 19, Iheanacho holds immense promise for years to come. But Tuesday's goal gave further notice that he's ready to make an impact on the first team now.

Winner: Manchester City's Outlook

Jon Super/Associated Press

Manchester City supporters had plenty to celebrate Tuesday night. The Sky Blues remained alive in the hunt for silverware as several players produced strong performances. Off the pitch, the news was just as good.

As reported by Paul Britton at the Manchester Evening News, City's owners on Tuesday announced a partnership with Chinese investors that will bring $400 million into the club. The announcement was tangential to the action on the pitch at the Etihad, but it should help City maintain their place at or near the top of English football for years to come.

Loser: Manchester City's Clean Sheet

Jon Super/Associated Press

This was a satisfying night for Manchester City, but if manager Manuel Pellegrini has one complaint, it will be that his side failed to keep a clean sheet.

That's not to disparage goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who played well in place of Joe Hart. Caballero was solid when called upon, and it would be wrong to blame him for failing to stop Andy Robertson's late goal one-on-one.

But Pellegrini might still be disappointed that his defense allowed the late goal, especially considering City's difficulty keeping clean sheets lately. According to Squawka, the Sky Blues have shut out only two of their last 17 opponents.