NO RESPITE FOR MOWBRAY’S MEN
MIDDLESBROUGH’S slide continued as Robbie Brady’s secondhalf free-kick ensured Steve Bruce’s side held on to their spot in the top two of the Championship.
After a confidence-sapping midweek defeat to third- placed Watford, who closed the gap to just one point as a result, the Tigers knew it was imperative they did not crash to a third consecutive home defeat.
And a curious sequence which has seen them win and lose alternate games stretched to a ninth contest when Brady’s low 62nd- minute free- kick caught out Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele, who merely helped it into the net.
Had Hull been able to handpick yesterday’s opponents, an out- ofsorts Boro side, winless in nine on the road under Tony Mowbray, would have been high on the list.
Yet if their recent slump was rocking confidence, it certainly did not show in the opening 45 minutes. Sammy Ameobi epitomised that as he waltzed past Corry Evans, yet the Newcastle loanee struggled to truly test David Stockdale as his effort lacked power.
Stockdale was then alert enough to stop Mustapha Carayol’s deflected cross creeping in at his near post moments later.
In their manager’s own words, Hull had lacked a touch of quality in midweek and captain Robert Koren almost answered Bruce’s call with a deft touch past Grant Leadbitter before he unleashed a vicious drive which stung Steele’s palms.
George Boyd lashed into the side- netting but it was Ameobi, playing just off Ishmael Miller, who continued to impress at the other end.
First he saw a deflected effort go narrowly over the bar and then he picked out Miller with a clever cross which was just too high.
Liam Rosenior replaced Alex Bruce and Jay Simpson came on for Gedo shortly after the break as Bruce deployed a more conventional 4-4-2.
Boro were still asking questions, though, Carayol’s effort forcing Stockdale to make a low save down to his right while Miller nearly shook off Abdoulaye Faye outside the six-yard box.
But it was the hosts who broke the deadlock just after the hour.
Josh McEachran tripped Koren on the edge of the box and, from the resulting free- kick 25 yards out, Brady struck the set piece low, curving the ball around the wall with Steele only able to push it into the roof of the net.