Middlesbrough 1 Hull 0
Nugent 90
David Nugent came off the bench to score a last minute
winner as Middlesbrough moved back into the Championship’s automatic promotion
places.
The Boro striker headed home Albert Adomah’s cross with a
powerful flick of his long neck muscles, to ensure his side beat promotion
rivals Hull in dramatic fashion at the Riverside.
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| David Nugent celebrates his important last minute winner (Picture from The Guardian) |
It came after a tough few days for Aitor Karanka and his team,
in which the Boro boss had missed the away defeat to Charlton and had to repel questions
about a reported bust up with his players.
This though was the perfect tonic for last weekend’s turmoil
and the Spaniard’s jubilant celebrations showed just how much the job, the fans
and this group of players really means to him.
The timing of this promotion-chasing clash came a strange
time for both sides. Hull hadn’t won in their last four league games while Boro
had just lost back to back matches against sides in the bottom three.
This meeting was therefore the perfect opportunity for one
of them to stop the rot and close the gap on runaway leaders Burnley.
Hull had chances, but squandered the opportunity to leapfrog
their opponents in a Championship table which is now just nine games away from
its conclusion.
Substitute Ahmed Elmohamady missed the best opportunity to
put the visitors ahead ten minutes from time. It left Steve Bruce bemoaning his
side’s inability to test Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopulos over 90 minutes.
In truth Hull keeper Alan McGregor had just as little to do,
as both sides traded punches without recording many shots on target.
In the second half the game began to open up after both
sides had enjoyed phases in the ascendency.
Adam Clayton and Tom Huddlestone both protected their
respective back fours with strength and drive. While the centre back pairings
of and Ben Gibson and Tomas Kalas for Boro, and Michel Dawson and Curtis Davies
for Hull barely put a foot wrong.
In the end it became a game that neither side wanted and
could afford to lose. It was clear that the two defences on show were by far
the best in the league and that it was going to take something special to
finally break them down.
Even so this was a different Boro side to the one which was
humiliated in front of the Sky
cameras at Charlton less than a week ago. Up until that game they hadn’t lost
when playing in the league on TV and they rediscovered their winning habit
here.
They also rediscovered that solidity and resolve which saw
them go on a nine game run without conceding a goal back January. In their last
few games, Boro’s so often reliable back line had looked porous and vulnerable,
yet that wasn’t the case here.
It remains unclear exactly why Karanka wasn’t in the dugout
against Charlton and in his pre-match press conference he denied a bust up with
player, concluding ‘we are stronger together’.
This was certainly evidence of that and would seem to imply
that any miss understandings are now firmly in the past.
Karanka made two changes to the side which started at the
Valley on Sunday. Kalas replaced Dael Fy at centre half while Cristhian Stuani
came in for Stewart Downing who dropped to the bench.
In contrast Bruce made four alterations to the side which
were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. The most
notable absentee was that of top scorer Abel Hernández who made way for Sone Aluko.
The other chances saw Chuba Akpom, Isaac Hayden and Elmohamady
drop out, as Robert Snodgrass, Jake Livermore and Huddlestone came in.
Despite a lively opening to the game there was little in
terms of goal mouth action and both sides kept their defences firmly bolted up.
Boro enjoyed most of the possession and came inches away from taking the lead
when Stuani’s header was hocked off the line by Andrew Robertson.
Hull responded but Mohamed Diame’s effort was comfortable
for Konstantopulos to save. The Senegalese midfielder is a big and powerful
unit and can be a handful for defenders on his day. On the occasion Boro’s
backline coped extremely well, and Diame was made to look clumsy and reckless
after committing some late challenges before he was finally booked.
The visitors grew into the game as the half went on and
should have gone ahead on 34 minutes. Sam Clucas’ cross from the left set up
Snodgrass inside the area but his shot found the side netting.
Clucas had spent most of the half watching the lively Emilio
Nsue, who had been charging forward for Boro from right back. However on the
stoke half time the Hull winger found some more space on the flank and set up Livermore
on the edge of the box. The former Tottenham midfielder took a touch before his
shot was charged down by Clayton, who had been an influential figure in the
middle of the park.
After the break the game showed signs of opening up.
Konstantopulos tipped Aluko’s curling effort over the bar before punching away
Snodgrass’ free kick.
Boro were urged on by large home crowd who were jeered on by
some crunching challenges and passionate encouragement from popular full back
George Friend.
Even so Hull wasted the best chance of the game when
Elmohamady fired over the bar. It came back to bite them, as Nugent peeled off
Dawson in dying minutes before heading the ball low into the far corner and sealing a
much valued three points.
Player
Ratings
Dimi Konstantopulos
7- Made a couple of decent saves and collected a few crosses
Emilio Nsue 7.5 Was
a constant outlet and linked up well with Adomah in the final few minutes
Tomas Kalas 8-
Barley put a foot wrong at the back
Ben Gibson 7-
Distribution could have been better but defended well
George Friend 7.5-
Charged forward in the second half and gave the whole place a lift
Grant Leadbitter 7-
Made a few sloppy passes but was always there to pick up the pieces
Adam Clayton 8.5-
Big game player. Won everything in front of the back four.
Cristhian Stuani 6-
Looked uncomfortable on the right once again
Gaston Ramirez 6.5-
Made some decent runs with the ball, could have done more to ease the pressure
Albert Adomah 7-
Delivery let him down at time but he persisted and set up the winner
Jordan Rhodes 6.5- Once
again the side didn’t really play to his strengths and he was give few chance
to feed off
Subs
David Nugent 8-
Created a spark upfront and came up with a huge stoppage time winner
Stewart Downing 6.5-
Came on with 29 minutes to go, chased the ball but struggled to create a clear
chance
Adam Forshaw- Replaced Ramirez with a minute to go, unfair
to give a fair rating
My Boro Man Of The Match: Adam Clayton
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