Manchester City Sloppy on Saturday, but Tenacious on Tuesday

It didn't take long for Manchester City to get over the lethargic loss to Hull.

In a crucial midweek game against Bolton, City rolled to a well deserved 2-0 win at Eastlands. And with Tottenham's loss at Wolves and Liverpool's loss at Arsenal, City leaped to a tie with the Reds for fourth in the Premier League table with 44 points. 

Not to mention, City's played two less games than Liverpool and host the Reds on Feb. 21st. But City will cross that bridge when it comes to it. Now, attention is fixated solely on the FA Cup's fifth round match-up against Stoke on Saturday. 

But which City team will show up against the Potters? The stagnant City that failed to draw against Hull or the composed and ambitious team that shutdown Bolton. 

City's disappointing 2-1 loss to Hull was undeniably one sided. Whether it was heart, creativity or confidence; Hull simply had plenty more of it.

City started slow and trailed 2-0 before Emmanuel Adebayor, in a scramble in Hull's six-yard box, nudged the ball into the net to cut the deficit in half in the 59th minute. And that would be the closest the Blues would come to equalizing.

Hull, who was right in the thick of the relegation battle heading into the match, came out strong and outplayed the visiting Blues in seemingly every aspect of the game. In fact, City didn't give the Tigers many scares until late in the first half when Wayne Bridge weaved through the Hull defense and fired from close range only to be saved by keeper Boaz Myhill.

After Adebayor's score, City possessed well in Hull's defensive zone but couldn't convert on any opportunities. A lazy first half inevitably cost the visiting Blues three desired and well needed points. 

"We started the game very, very slowly and there were things I didn't like because the pitch is the same whether we play at home or away," City manager Roberto Mancini told ESPN following the loss. "If we want to make the top four, we must win away and we must fight. We must be aggressive away, not like the first half."

The only changes City made for the Bolton match was Vincent Kompany for Dedryck Boyata, Andrew Johnson for Stephan Ireland and Patrick Vieira for an injured Craig Bellamy who should be fit for Tuesday's EPL clash with Stoke. Joleon Lescott also made his first appearance for Kolo Toure in a dozen matches after sustaining a knee injury that sidelined him for a dozen matches. 

Johnson and Vieira both made their first City starts after debuting against Hull three days before. And Johnson proved he can still play well with big boys after signing from Middlesbrough who was relegated following last season's dismal campaign. In fact, it was Johnson who won the penalty in the box that Carlos Tevez converted for City's first score and Tevez's 19th goal of the campaign.

The 22-year-old's elusiveness and control along the sidelines were evidence his £8 million transfer on deadline day will be worth every penny for years to come. 

"That is why we brought him in," Mancini told ESPN. "He is a young player who wants to do well. He can play on both the left or the right and he can also play behind the main striker. He can continue to grow and I think he can be a very important player for this club."

The versatile midfielder received a well deserved standing ovation when Mancini called him off for veteran Sylvinho in the 85th. 

Vieira joined Johnson as a very active component in the City win, setting up Adebayor's flawless strike in the 73rd. Barely onside, Adebayor chested the long ball and cranked a remarkable shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen without touching the pitch. 

The goal was Adebayor's ninth on the year in only 16 league games. He's also scored in all three of his comeback games since returning from the African Nations Cup. 

And when Adebayor sealed the three points for City, the idea of inching toward the top four became a reality. And the dream for Champions League qualification and FA Cup glory is still very much within grasp. 

"We still have a chance to be at Wembley in the FA Cup and are in the running for fourth place," Adebayor told City's website. "We will keep going and enjoy ourselves. We want to keep that dream."