Middlesbrough 1-2 Hull City: Hull send Boro to third consecutive defeat

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Liam Delap scores for HullImage source, PA Media
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Liam Delap's header midway through the second half began Hull's comeback at Middlesbrough

Hull City fought back to beat Middlesbrough and condemn the hosts to a third consecutive defeat.

Boro were ahead early when neat play between Lukas Engel and Sam Greenwood on the left teed up Isaiah Jones, whose shot was blocked before Emmanuel Latte Lath stabbed in the rebound.

The hosts were punished for failing to extend their lead when Jacob Greaves flicked on Tyler Morton's corner to the back post, where Liam Delap nodded in the equaliser unmarked.

Tigers goalkeeper Ryan Allsop then denied Greenwood from close range before Ozan Tufan swept in Hull's winner from the edge of the box with nine minutes left.

Allsop then made a stunning triple save from Jones, Rav van den Berg and Dael Fry in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Hull snatched their fifth away league win of the season.

The victory puts them in seventh in the Championship, outside the play-off spots on goal difference only, while a fourth defeat in five leaves Michael Carrick's Boro six points back in 13th.

The home supporters will have left Riverside Stadium wondering just how they had failed to take a point from a game they could and perhaps should have won.

Hull's defence gave the ball away in dangerous positions throughout the first half, but were somehow only punished once when Cyrus Christie's error eventually led to Latte Lath's seventh goal of the season.

Boro should have been two goals clear when Engel played a wonderful ball into the feet of Latte Lath, who slipped Jones through on goal, but he skewed a shot wide of the right-hand post.

The hosts racked up the chances after Manchester City loanee Delap drew Hull level, with Matt Crooks heading straight at Allsop when unmarked six yards out.

Morgan Rogers' deflected low ball then somehow skidded across the face of goal before, at the other end, Tufan stunned the hosts by steering in the winner.

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:

"I thought we played some really good football tonight. We were fantastic defensively in general and gave them next to nothing and yet we're coming away without the points - it's hugely disappointing.

"The boys and the performance deserved a lot more rewards than we got tonight, but that's the game, it's ruthless and you've got to be ruthless in both boxes and it was another one that has got away.

"I thought we were in control. We started very well, very aggressive, and had control of the second half. I thought the next goal would come, but obviously it didn't quite come.

"We looked like ourselves for large parts of it and I thought we played some very good stuff so I've got no problems with that side of things. If we play like that more often we will be absolutely fine."

Hull City boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:

"We weren't at our level - it was probably the worst in terms of football we have played in that first half out of the last three games so at half-time I said it's not about football any more, it's about who we are as people.

"And to show the character and for the subs to come on and show the character that they did, it tells me we have a group who are together and who believe we can do something really good this year.

"We changed our formation for the second half, but it's about spirit.

"When I see my whole team celebrating in front of the goal they've just defended with three magnificent blocks, sometimes that means more than building out from the back or having possession - it's about spirit and determination and we've got to keep that going."

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