SUCKER CRUNCH

GASTON RAMIREZ stopped a woefully unambitious Hull sucking the life out of this game to give Middlesbrough the win they deserved.

He nodded home on the hour – then celebrated by sticking a thumb in his mouth.

Boss Aitor Karanka has laid down solid foundations to keep the Teesiders in the top flight.

All that was lacking was a killer touch able to turn grinding draws into three points and gain some breathing space on the bottom three.

And despite visitors Hull parking the bus, Ramirez was able to provide that last night.

The Tigers though again demonstrated why they are the lowest scorers in the Premier League.

They sat back and allowed Boro to dominate to such an extent the home side had 70 per cent possession by the time Ramirez struck.

The Uruguay midfielder used to play for the Tigers, and his performances are not remembered fondly at his old club.

At Boro he has been excellent, always creative, and last night headed his second of the season.

Mike Phelan’s side, outside their EFL Cup cheer, have now lost seven out of eight in the league and are heading for big trouble.

Boro would be sitting comfortably in mid-table had they hit form at home, and badly needed this win.

They have looked a cut above the relegation fight, but drawn too many, and the margins are fine.

Those fine margins were apparent again when Viktor Fischer had a goal disallowed.

The former Ajax star scrambled home after an unselfish head across goal from Alvaro Negredo.

Mike Dean ruled out the effort, but it was all Boro going forward against a 10-man Hull wall aimed at frustrating their hosts.

Just four points from Boro’s previous six home games was not the best return. Away they have eight from seven games. Karanka’s men started brightly and Negredo should have buried the game’s first chance on seven minutes.

Chief creator Ramirez broke and laid the ball to Marten De Roon, whose first time touch allowed Negredo an opening but he fired over.

Ramirez then forced David Marshall to save with a long-ranger.

Hull’s one bright spark in the first half came when Adama Diomande was sent clear by Markus Henriksen, only for Ben Gibson to snuff out the danger with a brilliant tackle.

Boro hogged the ball and denied Hull any shots on target. But the Tigers stepped it up and took a few gambles to get into the Boro box.

Sam Clucas flicked a free header over the bar with 14 minutes to go in a rare foray forward.

More displays like this and Hull are heading straight back to the Championship.

Boro can look upwards with a bit of optimism.