Hull City 1-3 Middlesbrough

Britt Assombalonga headed home his eighth goal of the campaign

Middlesbrough moved to within one place of the play-off positions with victory at 10-man Hull City.

Martin Braithwaite slid home the opener after picking up a loose pass and Britt Assombalonga headed in a fine Cyrus Christie cross to double Boro's lead.

Sub Kamil Grosicki's volley halved Hull's deficit with 20 minutes to go.

But Michael Hector was shown a red card after fouling Boro's Ashley Fletcher in the box, and Grant Leadbitter converted the penalty to seal all three points.

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Victory means Garry Monk's side are only kept out of the Championship top six on goals scored, while Hull are 17th.

No team in the second tier has scored more goals than Leonid Slutsky's Hull, but they struggled to create chances despite the introduction of the lively Grosicki and Nouha Dicko.

Following Saturday's home defeat by Nottingham Forest, the Tigers have now won just three of their past 10 league games in front of their own fans, while Boro are unbeaten in six on the road.

Hull manager Leonid Slutsky: "It's really very difficult to understand about the long-term future because now I must think about the next match, sending off of Hector... a lot of difficult situations.

"I think 15 matches is normal time for a decision and if the owner decides about me I will agree, no problem.

"The biggest pressure is myself. I don't need extra pressure because I always evaluate every situation and I don't satisfy my level now.

"I am my own most serious analyst, I am never speaking about 'it's not my fault'.

"I will agree with the owner's decision in this situation. If he lets me continue to work I will try to change the situation."

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk:

"It doesn't get much better, in terms of performance levels, the points we took from it and the goals that we scored.

"The only negative was their goal but that was out of nothing and from their point of view it was a good finish.

"Both performances have deserved the three points, have deserved the goals.

"Hull have scored a lot of goals this season, so they were always going to be a threat, and I thought we really took care of them defensively very well and we looked a dangerous team on the attack as well."