Hull 1 Middlesbrough 3: Liam Rosenior sees City implode as Michael Carrick has lift-off

Both arrived late and weren't pretty, but were priceless in the context of the Tigers' burdensome campaigns of 2019-20 and 2021-22.

Fast forward to the present and it was Middlesbrough who possessed the greater survival instinct. It helps when the defences of your opponent can be blown open with ease.

Watching on from the stands with owner Acun Ilicali, City's head coach in waiting in Liam Rosenior - whose appointment is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday - was given ample food for thought.

As a former full-back, the sight of Hull's wretched rearguard play, particularly at key junctures in the second half when two dreadful concessions - credited as own goals to Tobias Figueiredo and Cyrus Christie - killed any hope of a fightback would have made him wince.

Earlier, a goal on the hour from former Boro defender Cyrus Christie had cancelled out a first-half opener from another who dined out at an old club's expense in Chuba Akpom.

The game was tantalisingly poised only for Hull to implode. Boro have now jumped above them on goal difference after inflicting a sixth defeat in seven home games upon them.

City's goal difference now stands at an embarrassing minus 14. The season is only just into November, but they have already conceded 35 goals.

For Boro, there was lift-off under Michael Carrick and discernible progress, certainly on the attacking front.

Ahead of the game, the sojourns of these two sides could be explained in part by their first-half deficiencies.

In their previous six home matches, Hull had conceded a first goal inside the first 25 minutes, while registering a clean sheet at the interval just once in front of their own supporters this term.

In terms of their defensive away statistics, Boro's numbers were even worse. You had to go back to last season for the previous time they had not let in a goal on their travels in the first half.

The milestone at the break belonged to Boro - who recorded a first-half shut-out on the road at last in 2022-23. More important was the fact that they secured the all-important breakthrough.

For Hull, it was a case of more of the same.

The hosts struggled down the sides defensively and there was plenty of space for the likes of Isaiah Jones and Ryan Giles, much more convincing than at Preston, to exploit.

The decision to hand former City loanee Marcus Forss, handed his first start since August 20, ahead of Rodrigo Muniz was also justified, with his pace posing problems in particular for Figueiredo - with Boro’s coaching staff having clearly told the Finn to target the experienced defender.

Akpom operated just behind Forss in the ‘ten’ role and had the bit between his teeth again. His angst was there to see after firing a presentable early chance wide after a neat cut-back from Jones. He was feeling better about himself on the half-hour.

Howson found Tommy Smith, who produced a fine pinpoint cross to the back post where Akpom headed home in splendid isolation, much like at Deepdale at the weekend.

Hull’s own returning striker in Oscar Estupinan, who lined up from the off after coming on from the bench for the previous three matches, had the hosts best first-half moment with his snapshot flying over from a tight angle.

In the main, Boro protected Zach Steffen well. On the restart, it was much less straightforward as Hull increased the intensity markedly.

Christie set the tone alongside Regan Slater. They posed issues for Giles, with Hull sensing weakness there, just as Boro did with Figueiredo.

Estupinan came to the party from Christie’s cross. Steffen tipped over in the nick of time before Seri fired just wide.

The pressure was sustained with two attack-minded players in Dimitrios Pelkas and Dogukin Sinik thrown onto give Boro more to think about.

They were soon breached when Christie cut inside and saw his shot take a significant deflection off Lenihan before sailing into the net.

Hull had all the momentum. Unfortunately old defensive habits die hard.Jones’s cross from the right was headed across goal by Lenihan. In attempting to clear, Figueiredo bundled the ball over the line, despite Ozan Tufan 'clearing.’

Boro sealed it when Giles, in an ocean of space on the left, saw his low cross-shot diverted into his own net by Christie. The visiting player missed a glorious chance for a fourth late on.

Hull City: Baxter: Christie, Figueiredo, Greaves, Fleming (Coyle 73); Seri, Woods (Sinik 56); Docherty, Tufan, Slater (Pelkas 55); Estupinan. Unused substitutes: Ingram, A Jones, Longman, McLoughlin.

Middlesbrough: Steffen; Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles; I Jones (Dijksteel 90+3), Howson, Hackney (Mowatt 90+2), McGree (Crooks 84); Akpom, Forss (Muniz 71). Unused substitutes: Roberts, Hoppe, McNair.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northants)