Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini offered no excuses after their defeat to Hull City.

Hull came flying out of the blocks and dominated a first half in which the impressive Jozy Altidore opened the scoring in the 31st minute with his first Premier League goal.

City struggled to create anything of note, with Wayne Bridge managing their first shot on target in first-half injury time, and the hosts were celebrating a two-goal lead nine minutes into the second period.

And what a strike it was, veteran midfielder George Boateng letting fly from 25 yards with a volley that rocketed past Shay Given and gave the Dutchman his first goal of the season.

Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back five minutes later but the expected City onslaught never really materialised and Hull were left to celebrate a victory that lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to 14th.

Mancini, who gave Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson their debuts off the bench, admitted his side had been second best.

"We didn't play very well," he said. "We know Hull at home is a different proposition, they played well. We started the game very, very slowly and there were things I didn't like because the pitch is the same whether we play at home or away.

"If we want to make the top four, we must win away and we must fight. We must be aggressive away, not like the first half."