Two goals from Edin Dzeko ensured Manchester City overcame a resilient Hull City.
City had taken a two-goal lead after Sergio Aguero’s volley and a Dzeko strike from distance.
But City’s Eliaquim Mangala headed into his own net, then conceded a penalty, from which Abel Hernandez made it 2-2.
However Dzeko struck again from close range, then substitute Frank Lampard hit his fourth goal in a week to secure the win.
Sergio Aguero was back in the City side after missing Wednesday’s Capital One Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday
Last season at the KC Stadium, City overcame the early sending off of Vincent Kompany to record a defiant 2-0 victory.
They made a much better start this time, taking the lead after just seven minutes with a goal made in Argentina.
Pablo Zabaleta, back from a one-game suspension, did well to direct a header toward compatriot Aguero, who swivelled before firing a clinical volley past an exposed McGregor.
With the Tigers struggling to get out of their own half, Dzeko made it two when he picked up David Silva’s pass, cut inside and curled a fine effort into the far corner from the edge of the box.
However, with the visitors appearing to be strolling to victory, Bruce’s men found a way back in with a goal from nowhere when Mangala unwittingly powered Liam Rosenior’s cross past a stunned Willy Caballero, who was making his first Premier League start in place of the benched Joe Hart.
Joe Hart was dropped last November but won his place back from Costel Pantilimon
After half an hour they were level, and again it was down in no small part to Mangala, who this time went studs up into the chest of Hernandez in the area. Referee Anthony Taylor, positioned feet away, pointed to the spot and Hernandez coolly sent Caballero the wrong way.
With a yellow card, a conceded penalty and an own goal inside the 32 minutes, it was turning into a bad day for City’s £32m signing from Porto.
His blushes were spared, however, by Dzeko, who latched onto Silva’s pass before rolling a precise left-foot finish beyond McGregor on 68 minutes.
Caballero beat away a Gaston Ramirez shot and Tom Huddlestone had an effort deflected over, but substitute Lampard sealed it with his fourth goal in a week, sidefooting home Zabaleta’s cross.
Abel Hernandez looked high to the heavens after scoring his penalty
City had gone three league games without a win following a shock loss to Stoke and draws with Arsenal and Chelsea. However, despite this win there will be plenty for manager Manuel Pellegrini to ponder on the journey back over the Pennines.
Former Manchester United stalwart Bruce will be delighted with the fightback but his side remain without a win since their opening day victory over QPR.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: “We started very well. We were very unlucky with two individual mistakes through the game.
“These things can happen. He [Mangala] was very unlucky with the own goal and after that he arrived late for penalty but we continue to trust him because he is a very good player who had very bad luck.
“It was very important to win three points here because we cannot allow to drop any more points on Chelsea.”
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Source: BBC Sport