During a season replete with firsts in the history of Hull City, here, against a resurgent Manchester City, was one that Phil Brown, their manager, could presumably have done without: first Premier League team to spurn the use of a dressing-room at half-time.

Infuriated by a dismal first-half showing during which Brown’s over-achievers had conceded two goals each from Felipe Caicedo and Robinho in the space of 22 minutes, Brown marched his players back into their penalty area after halting their walk down the tunnel.

After applauding his club’s supporters, Brown spent the ensuing five minutes issuing a finger-pointing lecture to his bewildered players. Hull have been involved in some wholly unexpected sights in the first half of the season but this may well have been the most unusual.

“I thought it was nice and cold and I wanted to keep them alive because they looked dead,” Brown said. “The fans deserved some kind of explanation for the first-half performance and it is difficult to do that from the confines of the dressing-room.

“For people to arrange Christmas and Boxing Day around a game of football, which they’ve done, I think we owe them an apology for the first-half performance. It was unacceptable behaviour and an unacceptable performance from a Phil Brown side. I’m bitterly disappointed.”

Caicedo took 14 minutes to put City in front but the home team had been building from the opening minute when Robinho received a square ball from the Ecuador international, at the end of the game’s first attack, and curled a shot just wide.

The Brazilian’s position, wide on the left of a three-man front line, proved a problem for Hull and in particular Bernard Mendy, their right back, and would prove pivotal in the onslaught that was to follow.

First, however, Hull would have their chance to break the deadlock as Geovanni’s pass played Marlon King through for a fierce shot which drew a diving block from Joe Hart.

It was as good as the contest would get for Hull as Robinho’s skill and innate feel for the game, allied with Stephen Ireland’s passing and the strength and hard running of Caicedo, simply overwhelmed the visitors, who had boldly, perhaps too boldly, fielded a 4-3-3 formation.

Caicedo’s first goal originated, ironically, from one of City’s much-maligned defenders rather than one of their charismatic forwards. Richard Dunne made a strong tackle deep in his own half and surged two thirds of the length of the field before playing a sensible pass to Robinho, who, intelligently, switched play to Ireland on the right. His cross was delivered perfectly into the six-yard box, where Caicedo arrived to convert.

Robinho tormented Mendy yet again and was denied only by a good save by Boaz Myhill before Caicedo added his second goal on 27 minutes.

Pablo Zabaleta’s long ball freed Ireland, who surged past Paul McShane and crossed perfectly — again — for the irrepressible Caicedo to drive in the ball from a half-dozen yards.