Middlesbrough 3 Hull City 1

Apr 12 2009 Sunday Sun

Despite Boro having the bulk of the play, Hull looked dangerous on the break and went close on 25 minutes when a Barmby flick sent Fagan bursting into the box but again keeper Jones came out and parried then collided with the striker and the loose ball fell for Manucho but his shot blazed over.

But Boro were back in front in this ding-dong battle on 29 minutes when Tuncay won a corner and when McMahon drilled it in low towards the crowd, defender-turned-midfielder Bates shrugged off his marker to stabbed home a low angled drive from ten yards to claim his first ever goal for the club.

The tense game was getting increasingly scrappy with tackles flying in all over the pitch and free-kicks breaking up any fluid play as the first half drew to a close.

Boro showed first after the break after good work by Downing on 48 minutes saw him trick his way into space on the left but Alves header was blocked then when Mcmahon fired in the rebound it was charged down.

Then, two minutes later, Downing whipped a free-kick in from the right and Huth put a glancing header just over.

And as the pressure built Tuncay won a free-kick wide on the left on 55 minutes adn when it fell to King ree on the far side he drilled a low ball through the crowd in front of goal but no-one could turn it in.

Then on 59 minutes an Aliadiere weaving run ended with a foul on the edge of the box but Downing’s free-kick curled just outside the near post and soon after Alves got into the box but his shot was stopped by a forest of legs.

Boro had a scare on 62 minutes as Jones dropped what looked a routine free-kick into the box but after a scramble Wheater hoofed it clear and it sent King surging forward with Alves in support but the final ball to the Brazilian was mistimed and it gave the last defender the chance to stretch and cut out the danger.

The game was once again getting scrappy and littered with fouls and with frustrations showing Boro had Bates and Taylor booked in quick succession.

There was a scare on 70 minutes as Downing gave away possession near the corner-flag and when Geovanni crossed in towards Manucho, Jones came to collect but fumbled the ball backwards but alert Wheater stooped to head off the line.

Then a nervous spell followed as jittery Boro struggled to scramble the ball out of the box after a free-kick before old boy George Boateng blazed over from distance.

Boro should have sealed it on 78 minutes when a neat ball over the top from Taylor sprung the offside trap and sent Downing racing clear into the box and he cut inside to drill in a low shot that Duke saved at his near post.

Straight down the other end Hull went close as Boro again failed to clear their lines and when the cross came in unmarked Marney powered a close range header just over.

But Broke out to seal it at the death as Downing pumped a long ball out of defence and Adam Johnson chased it to force a weak keepers’ clearance to sluggish Boateng and when Aliadiere tackled him and the pair fell in a heap, Marlon King scooped up the loose ball and skipped into the box to rifle home a low shot past Duke from ten yards out.