Middlesbrough Fan View: Hull showdown presents perfect chance to show survival credentials

Hull at home provides Boro with chance to show they’re too good for relegation dogfight

For all the positivity and sense of corners turned at the Riverside, there is no escaping the dose of reality offered by the league table.

Middlesbrough sit just one point above the relegation zone after Leicester’s last-minute penalty last weekend denied them what would have been a crucial three points at the King Power Stadium.

As it is, a point away to the champions and a performance that hinted at good things - not to mention a quality brace from Alvaro Negredo - left the overall impression of a team moving in the right direction.

But as I have said all too often, that will all be for nought if it can’t be followed up by victory in what is as close to a should-win game as this Premier League throws up.

Hull City’s troubles have been well documented: injuries have hit an already small squad, since Mike Phelan was confirmed as manager the results and performances have been far from good. Yet they are only one point behind Middlesbrough in the league.

So it is as big a game for the visitors as it is for the hosts.

As such it will be vital that Middlesbrough look to attack Hull from the start. An early goal against team short of confidence will go a long way to securing three points, but then they must go for the kill.

As they found last week, a single-goal lead can disappear in the swish of Marten De Roon’s boot and a blow of the referee’s whistle.

That is why tonight they must be positive - attack Hull at every available opportunity, use the pace of Adama Traore to hurt them, get the ball up quickly to Negredo; they must also press Hull in possession. The visitors are short of confidence, so harrying them into mistakes will be a key weapon for Boro.

It is a style of play that Aitor Karanka has slowly - finally - coaxed out of his players and tonight it will be a good chance to lay down a marker that Middlesbrough are a team to be feared. And a home win will help keep the Riverside faithful on side - Boro have, after all, only won once at home this year.

Boro have come out of a hard run of matches relatively unscathed, and with confidence boosted; that must now be turned into points to pull away from danger.

The last time Hull City visited the Riverside it was also a proverbial six-pointer; in March when both sides needed the points in their hunt for promotion.

A stoppage time header from David Nugent clinched the three points for Middlesbrough that night. Ultimately both sides achieved their aim.

The goal this time around us to avoid relegation. I would be very surprised if both these teams met that goal. A win tonight for the Boro would be a big boost in ensuring that it’s not they who miss their target.