Manchester City 2 Hull City 0: match report "Very important for the team, very important for Joe Hart and very important for our defenders who were perhaps not confident after the last game also," he said. There was an interesting turn of phrase from Pellegrini, describing how his players were "without trust to play easy" in the first-half and to move the ball the way he wants them to and that was certainly the case. "We can't win every match four or five nil without any problems," he added. Certainly that 4-0 drubbing of Newcastle, in the opening round of fixtures, said as much about Alan Pardew's problems as the power available to Pellegrini and he needs to not only find the right formula but inject a bit more defensive resolve. "Of course we must improve," Pellegrini added and he is expected to complete a deal to sign defender Martin Demichelis from Atletico Madrid before the transfer window closes tomorrow. Despite Bruce's determination to "enjoy it" in the Premier League, after an attritional Championship season, he cut a picture of frustration on the touchline as the reality of the situation dawned on him. Not only were Hull playing well but City were there for the taking - if only they could take their chances. Our Achilles' heel, even last year in the Championship, was would we score enough? Bruce, who still remains interested in Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner, said. We had more chances today than in my previous six visits here. Those chances came early, also, with Sone Aluko sent clear on goal after some calamitous defending. A slack pass from Matija Nastasic, Joleon Lescott was caught on his heels - and Aluko ran clear. He had time and space - only to drag his shot, scuffing it past the post. A terrible miss. Soon after and Danny Graham volleyed home spectacularly - only to be rightly pulled up for a marginal offside with Bruce left to reason that while the decision was correct ... maybe the assistant referee did not have to be quite so accurate! The chances continued to fall for Hull with Lescott headed a cross into the air only for the ball to drop to Robert Koren whose sweet half-volley whistled narrowly wide. Not that City did not create. Allan McGregor saved smartly at his near post from Edin Dzeko's powerful header, and tipped over another headed effort, this time from Lescott, but the bulk of clear opportunities were with the visitors for whom Tom Huddlestone, afforded time and space in midfield, impressed as he picked a pass. Jake Livermore also caught the eye. There was even a smattering of half-hearted boos at half-time. Pellegrini acted - with Alvaro Negredo replacing the disappointing Dzeko. The Spanish striker's first involvement was to steer a near post header wide when he should have scored. Despite being in the ascendancy the contest was drifting for City until Negredo struck. It came as Pablo Zabaleta exchanged passes with Sergio Aguero and crossed deep. Negredo rose, hung in the air and this time guided his header back across McGregor and into the net. The relief was immense. Pellegrini's reaction spoke volumes. But Hull would not go away. Instead they upped their approach and did so without resorting to hopeful long balls or simply pressing their opponents. They passed and they moved and Aleksandar Kolarov was forced into a last-ditch tackle in substitute George Boyd before Graham was fortunate that the ball tangled in his feet as he almost broke through. Could they gain the equalising goal they probably merited? Instead another replacement, Samir Nasri, ran across the Hull penalty area and made the most of James Chester's challenge. From the free kick Yaya Toure stepped up and with a lazy swing of his boot curled the ball superbly into the top corner of McGregor's goal to banish any doubts of the result. "We are rightly disappointed with the scoreline but are immensely pleased with the way we played and took them on," Bruce said. And he was correct. The relief belonged to City and to Pellegrini.