Manuel Pellegrini has said he never doubted that Manchester City would see off Hull, despite losing away a two-goal lead in the first half.
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The Premier League champions were 2-0 in front inside 11 minutes as Edin Dzeko followed Sergio Aguero's opener with a wonderful strike from the edge of the area.
But then 32 million pound defender Eliaquim Mangala gave the Tigers a route back, putting a bullet header into his own net and then conceding a penalty which Abel Hernandez stroked home.
Hull gave their more illustrious visitors more than one scare with the scores tied but Dzeko's second and a fourth in three games from substitute Frank Lampard sealed a 4-2 win for the visitors.
And Pellegrini said: "I really was very calm because I don't think it was the real [rightful] score in the first half.
"You must have personality and character when that happens to try and return to normal. I felt during half-time that the players were clear about what happened. It was not that we were playing badly.
"The way we started, [I felt] we were going to win the game in the second half and we did. I was very happy about that.''
Pellegrini also played down his decision to hand Willy Cabellero a Premier League debut in place of England No. 1 Joe Hart.
"I think for Willy it was good to play not just one game but to play two in a row,'' he said.
"Joe played eight games in 32 days, a lot of games for a goalkeeper. I have a squad of 22, 23 players and I make rotations because I think it is better for the team."
Pellegrini had a word of consolation for Mangala, who endured a bumpy ride following an outstanding debut against Chelsea last weekend.
"I think you cannot analyse a player on one match," he said. "Not the last game when he played wonderfully and everyone said he was the best defender in the world, and not today because he was very unlucky with the own-goal and the penalty."
Hull boss Steve Bruce was buoyed by his players' response, saying: "It shows character that they rolled their sleeves up and got back into it.
"For a good hour after that it could have gone either way. We weren't quite good enough but we gave it a right good go, and against a quality team like them that's all you can ask for."