By Hull City

Hull City began 2025 with a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to play-off chasing Middlesbrough. 

Alex Gilbert’s finish in the final minute of stoppage-time saw Boro take all three points at the MKM Stadium. 

Prior to the fixture, Stuart Elliott was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame by legend Frank Banks before the club remembered those that we sadly lost across 2024 in a minute’s applause. 

Head Coach Rubén Sellés made three changes to his starting XI from the victory against Blackburn Rovers last time out. Abdüş Ömür, Steven Alzate and Lewie Coyle all came into the team for Abu Kamara, Xavier Simons and Matty Jacob respectively. City midfielder Regan Slater also hit a personal milestone for the club, making his 150th league appearance. 

31%

Possession

69%
7

Shots

17
0

Shots On Target

6
3

Corners

7
14

Fouls

6

2

0

Cards

1

0

It was the visitors that had the first chance of the game as Sean McLoughlin was dispossessed in his own penalty area, but Finn Azaz struck his effort over the bar. 

At the other end, Gustavo Puerta intercepted a loose pass before teeing up Mason Burstow, but his shot was blocked by Dale Fry before Alzate’s dipping drive from range minutes later flew narrowly wide past the left-hand post. 

It was a first half of few chances as Ivor Pandur first denied Emmanuel Latte Lath at his near post before acrobatically tipping over Riley McGree’s curling finish from range. 

Chances were more of a premium in the second half as Sellés made a double substitution at half-time, as Ryan Giles and Simons came on to replace Cody Drameh and Puerta respectively. One of those substitutes created the next chance of the game as Simons fired over from range for City.

For Boro, Lukas Engel picked out captain Hayden Hackney in space. With the ball bouncing kindly, Hackney, on the half volley, tried his luck from range, but Pandur was equal to the attempt. The visiting captain tried his luck again, coming much closer as he hit the post from a first-time strike, before Pandur produced a string of impressive saves to deny Middlesbrough. 

First, the Croatian dived well to his left to parry away Delano Burgzorg’s low strike on the turn before he acrobatically got a fingertip to flick away Azaz’s curling effort from the edge of the area. From the resulting corner by Dan Barlaser, Pandur again was on hand to push the delivery intended for the back post out of danger. 

In the latter stages of the game, both Slater and Barlaser had chances blocked at either end before Middlesbrough secured all three points in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time, as Burgzorg cut the ball back for Gilbert to finish from close range. 

Attendance: 21,585

Hull City: Pandur, Drameh (Simons 45'), Jones, McLoughlin, Coyle, Slater, Alzate, Puerta (Giles 45'), Ömür (Kamara 59'), João Pedro (Bedia 70'), Burstow (Vaughan 78')

Subs: Burns, Jacob, Racioppi, Sellars-Fleming.

Middlesbrough: Glover, Dijksteel, Fry, van den Berg, Engel (Neto Borges 69'), Barlaser, Hackney, Jones (Doak 69'), Azaz (Gilbert 88'), McGree (Burgzorg 69'), Latte Lath

Subs: Clarke, Hamilton, Edmundson, Connor, McCabe.

Extended highlights of Hull City 0-1 Middlesbrough are available on Tigers+.

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