An entertaining clash at the KC Stadium saw defensive howlers from both sides, courtesy of Tal Ben-Haim and Kamil Zayatte, before a superbly hit second for Stephen Ireland and a deflected Geovanni free-kick.

Despite Hull's fine start to life in the top flight, it is a fixture Manchester City's Abu Dhabi-based owners would probably be expecting to win.

But after three consecutive defeats, and questions over his own future at the club, Hughes identified an away point as a potential springboard going into matches against Manchester United and Arsenal.

"We're not the finished article yet, we're very early in our development and it's going to take time," he said.

"I've said this week that along the way there will be a little bit of pain and we've gone through some of that already.

"But hopefully the way we played today, with top sides coming up, will help us.

"I think we'll go out and show what we can do."

Having crept back into the lead after Ben-Haim's gaffe had gifted Daniel Cousin the opening goal, Hughes believes his team could have taken maximum points.

But, despite losing goalkeeper Joe Hart for around a month with an ankle injury, Hughes was content to put in a livelier away display after criticism of the team's efforts on the road.

"We needed a positive result and a positive performance and I think that's what we got," he added.

"Ideally we'd have preferred three points but the key today was to have an improvement on away performances. In recent weeks they haven't been anywhere near what they needed to be to get points at Premier League level.

"We've got a point, it could have been three, but we'll take it and it sets us up for the games we have ahead of us."

Hull boss Phil Brown paid tribute to Brazilian star Geovanni, who scored his sixth goal for the Tigers since being released by today's opposition.

Asked if he would trade the former Barcelona midfielder for his compatriot Robinho, Brown said: "Not in a million years. "Why? Because mine was free and I can't afford £32.5million!

"In fairness, Robinho came up to me after the game and shook my hand. I think he spoke Spanish, which I know a little bit of. He seems a nice fellow and a good footballer, but so is Geo. He's a talented lad."

It was Geovanni's first match against his former club and there had been much pre-match speculation over his head to head with the most expensive man in British football.

And Brown was pleased Geovanni did not allow the increased media interest to compromise his performance.

"The lad is very calm and if there was any pressure on him I didn't detect it," added Brown.