Hull City lifted relegation zone

Hull City lifted themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Manchester City

Altidore gave Hull a deserved lead when he curled in his first Premier League goal, and Boateng's unstoppable 25-yard shot confirmed the Tigers' dominance.

City, with Wayne Bridge back in their line-up, replied through Emmanuel Adebayor after a goalmouth scramble.

Patrick Vieira came on for his debut but City rarely looked like equalising.

Bridge will have been glad to return to action after two months out with a knee injury, and at the end of the week in which John Terry was relieved of the England captaincy following an alleged affair with the City defender's former partner.

Bridge actually had City's best chance of an otherwise forgettable first half from their point of view, sending a rasping drive straight at Boaz Myhill just after a neat move down the left just before the interval.

But otherwise Hull were completely dominant, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's intimidating physical presence and the hardworking Altidore giving the visitors' defence a torrid time.

Mancini had seen enough, bringing on deadline day signing Adam Johnson for his City bow, and the change had an instant impact.

Hull City assistant boss Brian Horton felt his side built on their midweek draw with Chelsea:
"We got at them, like we did against Chelsea, and set a high tempo from the start with the two up front causing problems.

"The first half was as well as we've played for a long, long time.

"The Chelsea result gave us confidence, which is the magic word in football - all of a sudden we look a completely different side."

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini:
"In the first half we didn't play well. Hull were more aggressive and put us under pressure.

"In the second, we played very well and when we put Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson on the game changed.

"If we play like we did in the second half, we can make the top four, but not if we play like we did in the first."