Hull City 2-2 Middlesbrough: Points shared as play-off hopes for both dented

Finn Azaz (left) has scored three goals in 16 appearances since joining Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in January

Play-off hopefuls Hull City and Middlesbrough shared the points in an entertaining game that ultimately did little for either side's top-six chances.

Visitors Boro took an early lead through Emmanuel Latte Lath's composed strike after they opened the Tigers up down the left.

The hosts responded well and deservedly levelled when Jaden Philogene's cross beat everyone and went in at the far post and they went in front before the break after Jean Michael Seri pinched the ball off Lewis O'Brien 20 yards out and thumped home.

Finn Azaz equalised with a deflected close-range finish after the visitors hit Hull on the counter-attack and, despite both teams looking for a winner, that is how it ended.

Hull and Boro remain 10th and ninth respectively, six points behind sixth-placed Norwich, although the Tigers do have a game in hand on the Canaries.

Kick off at MKM Stadium was delayed by 15 minutes because of traffic problems near the ground but Michael Carrick's men wasted no time taking the lead when the game did begin. They took the lead after just four minutes through Latte Lath's 11th league goal of the season following an incisive raid forward.

The Tigers, who are now winless in their past six home games, looked to hit back quickly and Seny Dieng made a super save to deny Jacob Greaves an equaliser before Philogene did draw Liam Rosenior's side level with a cross which may have just taken the finest of touches off Turkish forward Ozan Tufan.

Dieng was then culpable for Hull's second goal as he played a short goal kick into the feet of O'Brien on the edge of the area with the midfielder being closed down by Seri and the Ivorian punished him with a vicious finish.

Latte Lath was unable to convert on the rebound after Ryan Allsop spilled a Jonny Howson strike and Howson made a vital block to stop Seri getting his second of the night as the second half started off where the first half had ended.

Middlesbrough, now unbeaten in eight, made it 2-2 when they won the ball back 40 yards from their own goal and Azaz splayed a one-two with Isaiah Jones before finishing coolly via a slight deflection off Greaves.

Dieng then made another fine save to deny Abdus Omur and Latte Lath almost won it with the final action of the game but just could not get enough on Howson's cross.

Hull welcome struggling QPR on Saturday while Boro travel to second-placed Ipswich in games you feel both must win if they are to keep their fight for a top six place alive into the final weeks.

Hull City boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:

"Same story, for 90% of the game we were excellent. They started really well and took the game to us, I think that opened up the game and left us spaces to take advantage of and we did that so well.

"Their second goal sums it up, we've worked a brilliant move into their box but we don't take on the shot and within eight seconds the ball is in our net when we should have fouled.

"I'm proud of the stuff that we've done but it doesn't mean anything when you haven't won and we haven't won enough.

"We do such naive things at times. We should have more points. The players have been marvellous but just the key moments in the game have cost us."

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:

"I thought it was a good game. I thought there were a lot of good things within the game.

"We started fantastically well and they had to change how they pressed against us because we played through them really well and then they had a spell where they got the goals and made us defend our box too much.

"I thought we were better second half and played with a bit more belief and confidence on the ball.

"We're a bit frustrated at the end that we haven't won it. I can't fault the lads, they've shown again that they can handle it on big nights."