POTTER MAGIC!

Keane casts spell to dent Boro’s play-off dreams

SHOTA ARVELADZE urged Hull to hold on to star-man Keane LewisPotter after he conjured the winner to damage Middlesbrough’s play-off hopes.

The striker, 21, is highly rated and being watched by Premier League clubs in the hope of discovering the next Jarrod Bowen, who left Hull for West Ham.

The England Under-21 has been linked with a £14million move to Spurs, West Ham and Brentford, and turned this match with a piece of individual brilliance.

He collected the ball in the left channel and cut inside to the edge of the box. His shot dipped and evaded Boro keeper Joe Lumley, who should have done better, blaming defenders in front of him for not blocking.

It was Lewis-Potter’s 10th of the season (the forward celebrates, above), a fortnight after his first England age-group call up by Lee Carsley.

Arveladze’s men are unbeaten in their last six away games, winning three, and the Tigers coach said: “That was a massive three points. I am pleased the boys did it.

“They put the music on, were happy and looking for two days off, saying, ‘See you Tuesday!’ I just ran out quick!

“LewisPotter showed why we must keep him, always. Why sell your best player? No one wants that. He is why the coach can win sometimes.

“He gives us that extra something when you need it.

“I never touch him. He takes time, runs and brings the team up the pitch. He has done a great job this year, great goals, and this just makes the point.” It was a dreary game with a lack of urgency considering Boro are chasing a play-off berth. The only save Hull keeper Matt Ingram had to make was in the dying minutes from a Marcus Tavernier blast.

Boro boss Chris Wilder said: “Disappointed. That is what happens when you are not at it and standards are not good. It deteriorated into a poor performance. No flow, individual errors.

“It was one of our poorest performances of the season at home. The goalkeeper needs to do better and I’ve protected him for a while – it is another poor goal.

“You want to go into the last games playing well. So I am baffled at these performance levels.

“But if they are all 4/5/6s in your ratings, those are fair marks.”