No smiles from Aguero but Guardiola pleased with his City slickers

STRANGELY, Sergio Aguero didn’t raise a smile after scoring Manchester City’s second goal but Pep Guardiola was proud of the build-up that involved every player — even goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Perhaps Aguero was underwhelmed that his finish only just crept over the line after being half-blocked by goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic and Michael Dawson, but his stony face was still an odd reaction for an in-form striker who has scored 28 goals this season, including 10 in his last 10 games.

Guardiola assured everyone his star man wasn’t suffering from a deeper malaise.

‘I promise you he was so happy,’ said the Manchester City manager. ‘He has made an amazing step forward in the last two months, he is playing unbelievable and trying many, many things. I haven’t spoken to him but I am pretty sure he is happy.’

Never mind the scorer, every one of his team-mates could claim an assist from the tikitaka build-up that involved 20 passes once David Silva had started it all off with a simple ball to Yaya Toure inside his own half.

‘The second goal was an example of what we want to be,’ said Guardiola. ‘I don’t like defenders who just defend. Everyone was involved.’

The goal was the highlight of a relatively low-key afternoon. Hull haven’t won away in the league since August and once Ahmed Elmohamady had put through his own net after 31 minutes and Oumar Niasse missed a quick chance to level, the result was a foregone conclusion. Manchester City ended a mini slump of four games without a win, with Fabian Delph adding a third, while Hull stay out of the bottom three due to Swansea’s defeat at West Ham.

Marco Silva’s team have six games left and they all look more winnable than this one did, with Raheem Sterling standing out for City.

Their consolation goal, scored late on by Andrea Ranocchia, was another disaster for Bravo, recalled by Guardiola but who has conceded seven goals from the last seven shots he has faced in the league.

Hull boss Silva conceded: ‘Manchester City deserved to win. We need to change our behaviour and our results away. Our home form is amazing.

All is certainly not lost yet for The Tigers.