You're a hopeless romantic but if Mowatt can revive his career then there's always a slim chance for Muniz to catch his next club's eye
Wouldn't you just know it? The Tigers bag the first goal of the match in the 41st minute! 🙁 0-1 I'm confused. The BBC live commentary says Adama Traoré made the cross from which the goal was scored. Is that the AT who was once our AT & then transferred to Wolves?
Hmmm.
Quite an even first half and I’ve been impressed with Hull. Like we often do, they drift into the spaces between midfield and defence and pass the ball well. If you put Akpom and Archer into their XI I fancy they’d be an excellent Championship team.
Was the goal a bit dodgy? Steffen seemed to be wrestling one of their players when the ball whistled past him. Maybe it was just a good distraction from the visitors.
Plenty of time left and the chances will come. We can’t really afford to make that defensive howler now though.
Vic's summary of the first half:
HT: 0-1. Slow-burner. Boro a bit flat but have rattled the post, brought a great save & put a few wide without ever igniting. Hull neat at times & had chances of their own before the goal. Needs an injection of tempo.
Boro have found it difficult against a well-drilled Hull side who have remained cool in possession when being pressed by Boro and have probably been more comfortable and moved the ball a little bit quicker than Michael Carrick's men.
Most of Boro's build up play hasn't been slick enough and on the few occasions they've added tempo it's created openings. Though the tactic of trying to draw out Hull by building slowly from defence hasn't worked and has usually resulted in losing possession.
Looks like an early goal needed to avoid a frustrating second half - somebody needs to run at Hull - maybe Jones could be introduced with perhaps Forss switching sides and Hackney taking over from Mowatt as a playmaker in the centre in a tight midfield.
The midfield two of Howson and Mowatt just is not working and creating anything through the middle.
We have been too slow as Werder said, however credit to Hull.
Andy, I think their was a bit of a howler. Who was supposed to be picking him up.
Jones on for Forss & Dijksteel for Smith at the start of the second half.
I’m not too surprised that Boro are losing at halftime. I did state a couple of months ago that I thought Hull City might reach the playoffs. Of course there’s still plenty of time for Boro to win this game, but Boro may do well to get a draw yet.
HH equalises in the 55th minute, assisted by Jones! 🙂
That’s much better! When was the last time Redcar produced such a good player?
Archer makes it 2-1 three minutes later. The Beeb says he was assisted by Steffen, so it must have been one helluva punt upfield!
Decent start to the second half this.
Chuba makes it 3-1 in the 61st minute, with Jones again assisting.
Hard to keep track now! 🙂
McNair off injured in the 69th minute. Replaced by Crooks.
Boro back up to third, as Reading beating Luton by 1-0...
David Wheater of course!
Barlaser on for Mowatt in the 82nd minute.
A lot of good things tonight. Firstly coming from a goal down is always good.Then we had good performances and game time from Dikjsteel and particularly Jones. If we need a central defender because of injuries then look no further than Howson - he’s so calm. Mowatt slotted in well.
Any downsides? The injuries. Probably harsh to say anything uncomplementary about Akpom given the season he’s had but he missed 3 good scoring opportunities and the team missed many as well - it could easily been half a dozen goals.
The real bonus to me was young Jones- well done.
Philip from Huddersfield
For once I wasn’t worried that we were behind at half time. It could have finished 6-1 if we’d taken our chances in the second.
I said this months ago, but no one will fancy playing us in the play offs.
Vic's full-time summary:
FT: 3-1 - but it could've been so many more. After a slow-burning 1st 45, Boro exploding with 2nd half zest, pace, intent, intelligent movement and some sublime passing as they peeled poor Hull apart. Three great goals and a flurry of chances. Superb
And the Beeb's:
Boro's second-half rally well and truly quells Hull City, with substitute Isaiah Jones turning the game with his searching pace and skill. Cameron Archer was outstanding, firing in the second after Hayden Hackney had finally squared things up. Chuba Akpom scored in his ninth straight home game to seal it, after Allahyar Sayyadmanesh's brilliant header gave Hull the lead.
Plenty to build on for Hull, but surely now Boro at least in the play-offs and with an outside hope of the automatic places.
Hull became the latest side to be flattened by the Boro steamroller in the second half - they couldn't live with Michael Carrick's men as they went up the gears. Jones back to his best and provided the directness Boro had been missing and Dijksteel also showed what a talent he is and also with the missing pace the defence has been missing.
Though a word for Jonny Howson who suddenly looked the best defender on the pitch when he covered for the injured McNair - plus Hayden Hackney just oozes class and poise for a young player and surely destined to play in the PL for most of his career.
Not forgetting Archer who took his goal well and Akpom for scoring again with a great strike but maybe could have had 4 or 5 if he'd been a bit more composed.
Play-offs now essentially secured barring miracles from the pack and an unlikely disaster from Boro.
Ratings
Zack Steffen 6
Not overly involved and calm in possession, but needed to play out quicker against a stubborn Hull City side in the first-half Was flat footed for Hull's opener but didn't have much to do bar the odd routine save.
Tommy Smith 6
Offered plenty of energy down the right-hand side but unable to put in any meaningful crosses. Took a hefty whack and was replaced at the break.
Paddy McNair 6
Struggled with Harry Vaughan's runs dropping deep which left space in behind if he went with the runner. Went off injured in the second-half.
Darragh Lenihan 7
Steady away at the back but needed to move the ball out quicker in the first-half. Comfortable when they did in the second-half.
Ryan Giles 6
Plenty of driving runs and put in some dangerous crosses. Pretty solid defensively with not much to do.
Jonny Howson 6
Struggled to get into the game due to Hull's press in the first-half. Was the more comfortable of the midfield duo but had to move back into the heart of defence and was solid.
Alex Mowatt 6
Tidy in possession but nothing overly flashy. Played back too much in the opening 45 minutes but much improved in the second-half.
Marcus Forss 7
A bright spark for Boro in a poor first-half. A smart save from Darlow denied him the opener. Looked to have picked up a knock and was replaced at the break.
Chuba Akpom 9
Found pockets of space well and drove Boro forward in the first-half. Much better in the second-half and broke the Championship record for consecutive home games with a goal.
Hayden Hackney 8
Started brightly and hit the post inside the opening few minutes. His best work came away from the left-flank. Scored the equaliser with a deft finish.
Cameron Archer 8
Had very little to feed off in the first-half - a long-range effort from 25-yards out the best chance he had. Took is goal really well, showing strength to shrug off Sean McLoughlin and composure to finish from a tight angle.
Substitutions
Isaiah Jones 9 (For Forss at half-time) An inspired change at the break and grabbed two assists as Boro ran riot in the second-half.
Dan Barlaser (For Alex Mowatt 82mins) N/A
Anfernee Dijksteel 7 (For Tommy Smith at half-time) Boro looked more solid when he came on and linked up well with Jones.
Matt Crooks 7 (For Paddy McNair on 68mins) Did the basic stuff and gave Boro more of an attacking threat. Unlucky not to score late on.
READ NEXT:
Indeed I think Boro have secured a playoff place since only three teams can now mathematically overtake us - Millwall, Blackburn and West Brom - but as Millwall and Blackburn play each other on the last day they both can't exceed our points total so a top six place is secured!
@werdermouth I think baring some disaster, we are more or less guaranteed fourth place.
To be fair, I think a few of us on here have been saying, give Dijksteel a go. Good 45 minutes.
Dijksteel was one of the best performing players last season and just having his extra pace in defence is enough for me to pick him - we see nearly every game McNair beaten for pace with Smith usually unable to get back. Sometimes injuries end up picking a better team for the manager and making a decision that was hard to call. The return of Jones and Dijksteel may add that little bit extra down the right that could edge us to promotion.
Hull really showed how to contain Boro in the first half. Carrick changed the style by playing a few long balls and using the wings much more with everything happening much faster. That really suited Jones and Dijksteel who had excellent 45 minutes each.
Howson proved that he can do anything by slotting into the back four like the seasoned pro that he is. I still hope that Fry is being saved for the play-offs. He doesn't need to play before then. In fact, we are virtually guaranteed third or fourth so can rest all the injured players.
utb