Manchester City 4-1 Hull City: David Silva returns in easy win

Man City are on course to reclaim the trophy they won in 2014 after a 4-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final win over Hull City.

David Silva captained the team on his first start since October 3 after recovering from an ankle injury and played 82 minutes as goals from Wilfried Bony, Kelechi Iheanacho and two from Kevin De Bruyne did the job.

Steve Bruce's men knocked out Leicester City and Swansea City en route to the last eight but City's class was a step too far for the Championship side, who scored a late consolation through Andy Robertson.

Silva was one of five changes to the team that beat Southampton 3-1 on Saturday as Bony started in the lone striker role after Sergio Aguero sustained a foot injury at the weekend.

Bruce decided to make seven changes to his team that were humbled 2-0 by Derby County on Friday.

City were quickly in control of proceedings and were ahead inside 11 minutes.

With Hull camped deep inside their own half, De Bruyne took advantage of the space in front of the back four and hammered a shot from 22 yards that came back off the post. Bony reacted quicker than Alex Bruce and knocked the rebound home.

Silva and Fabian Delph were creating problems for the Hull midfield with their clever movement and intricate passing. They combined on 19 minutes with Silva playing in the England midfielder down the right edge of the box but he fired into the side netting.

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Hull offered little going forward as on-loan Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom struggled to get any change out of Nicholas Otamendi.

City continued to control proceedings in the second-half but the second goal was elusive and Hull began to grow into the game. Substitute Mo Diame almost opened up the watertight City defence on 61 minutes but Willy Caballero flew out of his goal to deal with the danger.

Silva fired a 25-yard effort just past the post on 70 minutes before De Bruyne had an effort punched clear six minutes later.

The pressure was building on Hull and as they opened up in search of an equaliser, City doubled their lead.

Raheem Sterling made an instant impact from the bench to fire a low cross into the box which was gobbled up from close range by Iheanacho.

The floodgates then opened.

A long punt up-field was flicked on by Iheanacho and De Bruyne read the touch before tucking the ball into the far corner.

He had the ball in the net again five minutes later, smashing a free-kick from the edge of the area in between Harry Maguire and goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, who rather left the ball for each other to deal with.

Robertson showed great skill from a tight angle to make it 4-1 with almost the last kick of the game, but it mattered little.

This was City's night, where their shining light returned.