Boro fading fast as Hull, Swansea win
TEN-MAN Hull and Swansea boosted their survival hopes with victories — while Middlesbrough’s chances of escaping the drop look even more slim. Boro, who had Gaston Ramirez sent off after just 20 minutes, lost 4-0 at Bournemouth to leave them nine points from safety with just five matches remaining. ‘We defended really poorly and gave ourselves a difficult afternoon. It’s been a tough few months since our last win,’ said beleaguered Middlesbrough boss Steve Agnew. While the Teessiders were woeful, extending their winless run in the top flight to 16 matches, relegation rivals Hull showed they have the stomach for a fight. Oumar Niasse was harshly sent off for a foul on Watford’s M’Baye Niang on 25 minutes, but they refused to buckle and Lazar Markovic’s goal just after the hour was followed by a brilliant volley from Sam Clucas for a two-goal victory. The win ensured Hull sit above the drop zone on 33 points, two points ahead of Swansea, who secured a 2-0 victory thanks to Fernando Llorente heading in Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross after ten minutes and Tom Carroll’s long-range strike. Middlesbrough, though, were routed on the south coast with Josh King, Benik Afobe, Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels doing the damage. They are now nine points from safety with just five games left and Wednesday’s Tees-Wear derby with Sunderland could be a pretty sombre affair.