Hull City against Manchester City

Geovanni takes a huge run up and thumps the ball against the encroaching wall. The free-kick will be taken again and Wright-Phillips has been booked. The second attempt is again blocked by Stephen Ireland who has illegally advanced and he too is booked. Third time lucky?

Hull shout for a free-kick which they get on the edge of the City penalty area as Richards hacks down Ashbee.

Hull shout for a free-kick which they get on the edge of the City penalty area as Richards hacks down Ashbee.

Turner puts in a great tackle before Ricketts shouts for a foul. It's a throw to City though and we are apparently now entering the time when mistakes are made according to the TV commentary team at Hull. What was the first half then?

Turner puts in a great tackle before Ricketts shouts for a foul. It's a throw to City though and we are apparently now entering the time when mistakes are made according to the TV commentary team at Hull. What was the first half then?

Turner puts in a great tackle before Ricketts shouts for a foul. It's a throw to City though and we are apparently now entering the time when mistakes are made according to the TV commentary team at Hull. What was the first half then?

Robinho finds his compatriot Jo with a through ball but his first touch of the ball is heavy and Hull quickly deal with the threat.

Hull are taking off Daniel Cousin which is a bit of a strange one and he is replaced by Nick Barmby.

And indeed Benjani makes way for him.

city striker Jo is about to enhance the quota of Brazilians strutting their stuff in Hull tonight as he prepares to enter the fray.

City striker Jo is about to enhance the quota of Brazilians strutting their stuff in Hull tonight as he prepares to enter the fray.

City striker Jo is about to enhance the quota of Brazilians strutting their stuff in Hull tonight as he prepares to enter the fray.

City striker Jo is about to enhance the quota of Brazilians strutting their stuff in Hull tonight as he prepares to enter the fray.

Ben-Haim puts it out for a throw and with King and Marney lurking in the City penalty areea the ball is played in but City are alive to the danger and clear their lines.

Geovanni has strayed offside as a pass is played up towards him.

Good covering play from Robinho to win the ball back for his team as Hull threatened to break up the park.

Lovely diagnoal pass from Ireland to play in Garrido who plays it in towards Vassell. Hull manage to somehow scramble his effort away and it is anybody's guess who is going to grab the next goal here. Surely there is going to be another in such an open match.

Turner puts the ball behind for a corner and when that is played in Robinho?s shot is blocked and cleared by Hull.

Ricketts fine cross from the left finds Cousin whose powerful header is stopped by Schmeichel.

GOAL: Geovanni has fired home a viciously deflected free-kick which totally fooled Kasper Schmeichel. Kompany turned his head as the free-kick came towards him and this was enough to turn it in for the goal.

Cousin harries Zabaleta in to putting his clearance out for a throw-in. Good pressure again from the big Hull striker.

Marney?s cross from the right is easily taken by Schmeichel.

Good covering play from Turner at the back for Hull to steady the ship with a timely interception after McShane gave the ball away carelessly.

Great leap from Cousin to win another aerial battle but City are able to clear the ball when it breaks.

Vassell is down injured after Ricketts went in hard on him but he is back on his feet and seems ok.

King again shows his strength to hold off two City defenders before laying it back to Boateng whose cross is poor.

King receives a long ball from the back and controls it well before hitting a shot low across Schmeichel who gets down well to block.

Boateng gets a good cross in towards Geovanni?s whose marvellous bicycle kick from twelve yards out almost goes in. A fantastic piece of skill from the ex-City man.

The corner is played short and Vassell goes on a darting run into the Hull penalty area which brings another corner. The time it is played deeper and Hull get it away. By the way apologies for the technical difficulties that are delaying the commentary so far today. We are working on resolving it...

City are straight on the attack with Wright-Phillips as the second half gets underway and Benjani eventually forces a corner on the right-hand side.

HALF-TIME: A couple of defensive clangers cancelled each other out before a piece of genius from City?s enigmatic Ireland put the visitors ahead. It?s a fascinating clash and you feel there are more goals to come yet.

GOAL: Stepehn Ireland receives the ball on the edge of the Hull penalty area after good work from Garrido. The Irishman steadies himself before curling home a superb effort with his right peg. Great goal and Mark Hughes is a happy man.

GOAL: Stepehn Ireland receives the ball on the edge of the Hull penalty area after good work from Garrido. The Irishman steadies himself before curling home a superb effort with his right peg. Great goal and Mark Hughes is a happy man.

Another claim for handball from Robinho and he has a case as his shot clearly struck Paul McShane on the arm but whether the Hull man was in a position to do much about it is questionable.

Another claim for handball from Robinho and he has a case as his shot clearly struck Paul McShane on the arm but whether the Hull man was in a position to do much about it is questionable.

Good strength from Wright_Phillips to hold off Ashbee as the Hull skipper clatters into the back of him.

Good strength from Wright-Phillips to hold off Ashbee as the Hull skipper clatters into the back of him.

City have their tails up now and all of a sudden the complexion of this game has altered. There is a loud shout for handball from Benjani as he plays a cross against a Hull body but the referee waves play on.

City have their tails up now and all of a sudden the complexion of this game has altered. There is a loud shout for handball from Benjani as he plays a cross against a Hull body but the referee waves play on.

GOAL: City equalise as Zayatte seemed to forget he was in his own penalty area, went for a stroll and allowed Stephen Ireland to sneak in and score from close range. Another defensive howler.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Boateng wins a duel with Ireland in midfield and Hull are winning most of the personal battles across the field this afternoon. You can sense the hunger in Phil Brown's side.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

City have a free-kick just wide of Hull's penalty area but when it is floated in Hull rise highest to clear the danger.

King conceseds possession to Wright-Phillips but the flicks of Robinho and Ireland do not come off and Hull win it back.

Benjani looks amazed that he has been penalised for a foul but he ain't fooling the ref.

Vassell is lucky to escape censure after a late tackle on Geovanni but the ref takes time to have a word with him to let him know he saw it and presumably to ask him kindly to stop that sort of nonsense.

Paul McShane is rightly booked for a late tackle on Garrido.

Nice burst from midfield by Wright-Phillips but Ricketts reads his pass well and intercepts.

Zayatte knocks the ball out of play electing to play it safe. City have a throw deep in Hull territory but Robinho receives the ball and makes a hash of it to the delight of the Hull support.

Good flick on from Cousin towards his strike partner King who can't take control of it. As expected though, these two are causing problems for City's defence.

Boateng runs in to Zabaleta down the left and is unable to keep the ball from going behind for a goal-kick.

The game has kicked off again after Hart's treatment but almost immediately he has collapsed once more and has hobbled off to be replaced by Kasper Schmeichel.

City will have to fight for this game now. Do Mark Hughes's men have the battling qualities needed to come back from this early setback?

Hart is down on the floor receiving some treatment for an ankle injury and that should also give him some time to calm himself after the hospital pass sent his way by Ben-Haim.

GOAL: A terrible mistake from Ben-Haim gifts Daniel Cousin the ball with only Joe Hart to beat and Cousin makes no mistake. He's on it in a flash and with a flick of his boot puts it past the stranded Hart to give Hull the lead.

Wasted cross from Samuel Ricketts goes straight in to the arms of Joe Hart.

Fantastic piece of lightning skill from Geovanni which ends with him being floored by Tal Ben-Haim as he raced towards the City goal. The Israeli is booked for his trouble.

Ian Ashbee scuffs a shot which dribbles harmlessly wide of the City goal.

Wright-Phillips goes up against the might of Zayatte in the Hull penalty area, a physical duel which the Hull man was always going to win.

Good piece of skill from Shaun Wright-Phillips and he wins a throw for City. From that Zabaleta whips in a cross from the right which Hull clear. Marney then goes in on the back of Ireland and City win a free-kick.

King's cross is sliced behind for a goal-kick but Hull have set up about the task in hand in an energetic and purposeful mannger. They look up for it.

McShane again supports the attack and his deep cross makes it's way over towards George Boateng on the left who earns a free-kick from Zabaleta's foul.

Good interception from Paul McShane to break up a City move but Cousin and King can't benefit from it.

Oh dear. Robinho hits it from thirty yards out and it curls tamely wide of the Hull goal.

Robinho earns a free-kick after what looked a reasonable challenge but it is in a dangerous part of the pitch and he may fancy having a go.

Robinho plays it up to Benjani who has carelessly allowed himself to stray offside.

City start a game between two sides with leaky defences so we could be in for an eventful afternoon.

Joe Hart has changed in to a more suitable keeper's strip of all green and we are now ready to get the game underway.

Hull will be hoping the physical presence of Daniel Cousin and Marlon King up front will provide the visitors backline with a real test.

Robinho is named City skipper in the absence of suspended Richard Dunne. Vincent Kompany returns to their defence after serving a ban of his own.

A big game this for both managers today. Both will be looking to show a bit of bouncebackability after a run of defeats in the Premier League. Phil Brown needs a result at home to show the wheels have not come off their exhilirating ride to date in the Premier League. Mark Hughes just needs a result full stop.

Good covering play from Robinho to win the ball back for his team as Hull threatened to break up the park.

Lovely diagnoal pass from Ireland to play in Garrido who plays it in towards Vassell. Hull manage to somehow scramble his effort away and it is anybody's guess who is going to grab the next goal here. Surely there is going to be another in such an open match.

Turner puts the ball behind for a corner and when that is played in Robinho?s shot is blocked and cleared by Hull.

Ricketts fine cross from the left finds Cousin whose powerful header is stopped by Schmeichel.

GOAL: Geovanni has fired home a viciously deflected free-kick which totally fooled Kasper Schmeichel. Kompany turned his head as the free-kick came towards him and this was enough to turn it in for the goal.

Cousin harries Zabaleta in to putting his clearance out for a throw-in. Good pressure again from the big Hull striker.

Marney?s cross from the right is easily taken by Schmeichel.

Good covering play from Turner at the back for Hull to steady the ship with a timely interception after McShane gave the ball away carelessly.

Great leap from Cousin to win another aerial battle but City are able to clear the ball when it breaks.

Vassell is down injured after Ricketts went in hard on him but he is back on his feet and seems ok.

King again shows his strength to hold off two City defenders before laying it back to Boateng whose cross is poor.

King receives a long ball from the back and controls it well before hitting a shot low across Schmeichel who gets down well to block.

Boateng gets a good cross in towards Geovanni?s whose marvellous bicycle kick from twelve yards out almost goes in. A fantastic piece of skill from the ex-City man.

The corner is played short and Vassell goes on a darting run into the Hull penalty area which brings another corner. The time it is played deeper and Hull get it away. By the way apologies for the technical difficulties that are delaying the commentary so far today. We are working on resolving it...

City are straight on the attack with Wright-Phillips as the second half gets underway and Benjani eventually forces a corner on the right-hand side.

HALF-TIME: A couple of defensive clangers cancelled each other out before a piece of genius from City?s enigmatic Ireland put the visitors ahead. It?s a fascinating clash and you feel there are more goals to come yet.

GOAL: Stepehn Ireland receives the ball on the edge of the Hull penalty area after good work from Garrido. The Irishman steadies himself before curling home a superb effort with his right peg. Great goal and Mark Hughes is a happy man.

GOAL: Stepehn Ireland receives the ball on the edge of the Hull penalty area after good work from Garrido. The Irishman steadies himself before curling home a superb effort with his right peg. Great goal and Mark Hughes is a happy man.

Another claim for handball from Robinho and he has a case as his shot clearly struck Paul McShane on the arm but whether the Hull man was in a position to do much about it is questionable.

Another claim for handball from Robinho and he has a case as his shot clearly struck Paul McShane on the arm but whether the Hull man was in a position to do much about it is questionable.

Good strength from Wright_Phillips to hold off Ashbee as the Hull skipper clatters into the back of him.

Good strength from Wright-Phillips to hold off Ashbee as the Hull skipper clatters into the back of him.

City have their tails up now and all of a sudden the complexion of this game has altered. There is a loud shout for handball from Benjani as he plays a cross against a Hull body but the referee waves play on.

City have their tails up now and all of a sudden the complexion of this game has altered. There is a loud shout for handball from Benjani as he plays a cross against a Hull body but the referee waves play on.

GOAL: City equalise as Zayatte seemed to forget he was in his own penalty area, went for a stroll and allowed Stephen Ireland to sneak in and score from close range. Another defensive howler.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Nice ball in towards King from Marney but he is a fraction offside as he stretches to head it back.

Boateng wins a duel with Ireland in midfield and Hull are winning most of the personal battles across the field this afternoon. You can sense the hunger in Phil Brown's side.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

Great ball in from Geovanni on the left but it is a fraction too high for Cousin who just fails to apply a firm header eight yards from goal. The slight touch he did get took it away from Marney who was in a good position just behind him.

City have a free-kick just wide of Hull's penalty area but when it is floated in Hull rise highest to clear the danger.

King conceseds possession to Wright-Phillips but the flicks of Robinho and Ireland do not come off and Hull win it back.

Benjani looks amazed that he has been penalised for a foul but he ain't fooling the ref.

Vassell is lucky to escape censure after a late tackle on Geovanni but the ref takes time to have a word with him to let him know he saw it and presumably to ask him kindly to stop that sort of nonsense.

Paul McShane is rightly booked for a late tackle on Garrido.

Nice burst from midfield by Wright-Phillips but Ricketts reads his pass well and intercepts.

Zayatte knocks the ball out of play electing to play it safe. City have a throw deep in Hull territory but Robinho receives the ball and makes a hash of it to the delight of the Hull support.

Good flick on from Cousin towards his strike partner King who can't take control of it. As expected though, these two are causing problems for City's defence.

Boateng runs in to Zabaleta down the left and is unable to keep the ball from going behind for a goal-kick.

The game has kicked off again after Hart's treatment but almost immediately he has collapsed once more and has hobbled off to be replaced by Kasper Schmeichel.

City will have to fight for this game now. Do Mark Hughes's men have the battling qualities needed to come back from this early setback?

Hart is down on the floor receiving some treatment for an ankle injury and that should also give him some time to calm himself after the hospital pass sent his way by Ben-Haim.

GOAL: A terrible mistake from Ben-Haim gifts Daniel Cousin the ball with only Joe Hart to beat and Cousin makes no mistake. He's on it in a flash and with a flick of his boot puts it past the stranded Hart to give Hull the lead.

Wasted cross from Samuel Ricketts goes straight in to the arms of Joe Hart.

Fantastic piece of lightning skill from Geovanni which ends with him being floored by Tal Ben-Haim as he raced towards the City goal. The Israeli is booked for his trouble.

Ian Ashbee scuffs a shot which dribbles harmlessly wide of the City goal.

Wright-Phillips goes up against the might of Zayatte in the Hull penalty area, a physical duel which the Hull man was always going to win.

Good piece of skill from Shaun Wright-Phillips and he wins a throw for City. From that Zabaleta whips in a cross from the right which Hull clear. Marney then goes in on the back of Ireland and City win a free-kick.

King's cross is sliced behind for a goal-kick but Hull have set up about the task in hand in an energetic and purposeful mannger. They look up for it.

McShane again supports the attack and his deep cross makes it's way over towards George Boateng on the left who earns a free-kick from Zabaleta's foul.

Good interception from Paul McShane to break up a City move but Cousin and King can't benefit from it.

Oh dear. Robinho hits it from thirty yards out and it curls tamely wide of the Hull goal.

Robinho earns a free-kick after what looked a reasonable challenge but it is in a dangerous part of the pitch and he may fancy having a go.

Robinho plays it up to Benjani who has carelessly allowed himself to stray offside.

City start a game between two sides with leaky defences so we could be in for an eventful afternoon.

Joe Hart has changed in to a more suitable keeper's strip of all green and we are now ready to get the game underway.

Hull will be hoping the physical presence of Daniel Cousin and Marlon King up front will provide the visitors backline with a real test.

Robinho is named City skipper in the absence of suspended Richard Dunne. Vincent Kompany returns to their defence after serving a ban of his own.

A big game this for both managers today. Both will be looking to show a bit of bouncebackability after a run of defeats in the Premier League. Phil Brown needs a result at home to show the wheels have not come off their exhilirating ride to date in the Premier League. Mark Hughes just needs a result full stop.