Pellegrini praises battling City

By Mark Staniforth

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini hailed his side's fighting spirit after they shrugged off the 10th-minute dismissal of captain Vincent Kompany to claim a potentially priceless 2-0 Barclays Premier League win at Hull.

David Silva's stunning 14th-minute strike and a last-minute effort from Edin Dzeko helped City end a tough week on a high after successive defeats to Wigan and Barcelona had left their dream of an unprecedented quadruple in tatters.

Pellegrini said: "I think it was a very good response from the team. It was a very difficult week and then we had to start this game playing with one player less after 10 minutes.

"It was more difficult to play with 10 players but I trust the team, I trust the players and I think we did really well with the ball."

Kompany was dismissed for hauling down Hull striker Nikica Jelavic as he tried to burst clean through on goal, but Pellegrini suggested Jelavic ought to have been punished for fouling the Manchester City man moments earlier.

Pellegrini added: "I thought before it was clear foul by Jelavic - before Vincent did his foul - but the referee didn't see it, he saw the foul of Kompany and he sent him off."

Pellegrini also sought to play down the second-half bust-up between keeper Joe Hart and Hull substitute George Boyd following the latter's penalty appeal, which resulted in Hart being shown a yellow card.

He added: "I am so far away on the bench it is not possible to see what happened. If Joe reacted, maybe the other player dived. I don't know - that is why there is a referee."