Gaston the great gets his revenge
GASTON RAmiRez did not enjoy his time at Hull and was written off as a luxury during a loan season which ended in relegation. But how luxurious it is for middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka to have the Uruguayan in his side this season.
Ramirez scored a wonder goal following a 75-yard run during the home victory over Bournemouth in October, but his winner last night owed more to bravery and desire, a towering far-post header hardly in keeping with his slight frame.
The goal maintained Karanka’s incredible home league record under the lights. The Spaniard has now won 20 of his 23 evening matches at the Riverside Stadium, drawing the other three.
But for Hull this was an eighth Premier League match without victory on a monday night — not that they would have won had this been played on a Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday.
mike Phelan’s men have lost five on the trot away from home. How they could have done with a playmaker such as Ramirez. He has been outstanding for Boro and is unrecognisable from the player who spent an unhappy nine months on Humberside two seasons ago.
Phelan, who worked with him during that time, said: ‘ He’s improved and a lot. He’s talented and has settled in well at middlesbrough. What disappoints me is that he scores with a header. Having known him i know that is not one of his strengths.’
Boro skipper Ben Gibson added: ‘There’s no doubting Gaston’s quality. He’s one of those players who can slice open a defence. He’s managed to do that here but probably not in the way you might expect him to!’
The hosts still needed the fingertips of goalkeeper Victor Valdes to deny Adama Diomande when he curled towards the top corner in added time, but Karanka was in bullish mood following the win which takes his team four points clear of the bottom three.
‘it’s a massive win because Hull are a direct rival. We showed we are better than them,’ he said.
And Karanka was right. For the third match in a row Hull failed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper during the opening 45 minutes and the half belonged to the hosts.
Alvaro Negredo lifted over the bar early on and Ramirez’s 25-yard shot drew a scrambling save from David marshall.
Boro should have had a penalty early in the second half when marshall wrapped his arm around the neck of Negredo as a high ball dropped inside the area. Ramirez gathered the loose ball only to blast his shot wide.
But the classy South American soon had his goal and he had no reservations about celebrating against the club where he made just 11 league starts.
Former Ajax winger Viktor Fischer had disappointed until delivering a great corner from the right on the hour and Ramirez did the rest with his soaring leap and unstoppable header.
Fischer came within a whisker of making the game safe when drifting infield from the left and bending wide and at the other end Diomande came much closer with a similar effort only to be thwarted by Valdes.
But the night belonged to Ramirez. What a luxury he is for Boro right now.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes 6; Barragan 6, Chambers 6.5, Gibson 7, Fabio 6; De Roon 6, Clayton 6.5; Ramirez 8 (Downing 87), Forshaw 7.5, Fischer 6 (Stuani 81); Negredo 5.5. Subs not used: Guzan, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Nsue, Traore. Booked: Fabio.
HULL (4-4-1-1): Marshall 6.5; Elmohamady 5.5, Davies 6, Dawson 6, Robertson 6; Snodgrass 6, Livermore 5.5 (Huddlestone 62, 5), Clucas 6, Mason 5 (Bowen 62, 5); Henriksen 5 (Meyler 81); Diomande 5. Subs not used: Jakupovic, Maguire, Weir, Tymon. Booked: Livermore.
Man of the match: Gaston Ramirez. Referee: Mike Dean.