Middlesbrough 0-1 Hull City: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Hull City beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium. The visitors took an early lead when Darko Gyabi scored in the 12th minute, assisted by Kyle Joseph, and that proved enough to secure the points. Middlesbrough, coming off a mixed run with a draw against Blackburn and a loss to Bristol City, pushed hard but couldn’t break through despite their dominance.

Hull City, riding a strong streak including wins over West Bromwich Albion and Millwall, defended resolutely after the goal, picking up four yellow cards in the process. Middlesbrough made a triple substitution at 59 minutes to chase the game, but their recent home form – including that goalless draw with Blackburn – left them frustrated again. The result keeps Hull in the promotion hunt, while Middlesbrough will rue missed opportunities from their superior possession.

Middlesbrough controlled the ball with 71% possession and racked up 10 corners compared to Hull’s two, showing they dictated much of the play but lacked the cutting edge to convert pressure into goals. Both sides were close in successful dribbles, with Middlesbrough edging it 47-45, but Hull’s single assist led to their decisive goal, while Middlesbrough recorded none. The visitors used all five substitutions, starting early with Cathal McCarthy replacing Ryan Giles at six minutes, followed by changes at 68, 75 and 76 minutes, and they collected four yellow cards against Middlesbrough’s two, reflecting a more physical approach without any reds or penalties on either side.

Hull’s lower possession allowed them to be dangerous on the counter, and with no injury-time goals or penalties taken, the match stayed tight throughout. Middlesbrough’s four substitutions came mostly at 59 minutes, with Delano Burgzorg replacing Kaly Sène, Sontje Hansen for Alex Gilbert and Aidan Morris for Alan Browne, plus a late one at 85 minutes where Sverre Nypan came on for Tommy Conway, but these changes couldn’t turn the tide.

The game’s defining moment came early when Darko Gyabi scored for Hull City in the 12th minute, assisted by Kyle Joseph, giving the visitors a lead they never relinquished. Hull had to adjust quickly with Cathal McCarthy replacing the injured Ryan Giles at six minutes, and they picked up yellow cards for Cathal McCarthy at 15 minutes, Babajide David Akintola at 30 minutes, Sergej Jakirović at 32 minutes, John Egan at 58 minutes and Kyle Joseph at 64 minutes, which highlighted their defensive battles. Middlesbrough’s response included a triple substitution at 59 minutes, with Delano Burgzorg replacing Kaly Sène, Sontje Hansen for Alex Gilbert and Aidan Morris for Alan Browne, but yellow cards for Luke Ayling at 76 minutes and Sontje Hansen at 78 minutes added to their frustrations.

Hull made further changes at 68 minutes, with Amir Hadziahmetovic replacing Joel Ndala and Liam Millar for Akin Famewo, followed by Oliver McBurnie for Kyle Joseph at 75 minutes and Kasey Palmer for Lewie Coyle at 76 minutes. Middlesbrough’s late substitution saw Sverre Nypan replace Tommy Conway at 85 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to force an equaliser in a match without red cards or penalties.

Middlesbrough lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Luke Ayling providing defensive solidity until his yellow card, and attacking partnerships involving Tommy Conway and Alex Gilbert before their substitutions. Kaly Sène and Alan Browne started in midfield roles but made way at 59 minutes, while substitutes like Delano Burgzorg, Sontje Hansen and Aidan Morris aimed to inject energy. Sontje Hansen picked up a yellow card shortly after coming on, and Sverre Nypan entered late to push for a goal.

Hull City set up in a 3-5-2 shape, relying on wing-backs like Ryan Giles before his early exit and Lewie Coyle until his substitution, with Darko Gyabi standing out in midfield by scoring the winner. Kyle Joseph provided the assist before being replaced by Oliver McBurnie, and John Egan anchored the defence despite his yellow card. Substitutes such as Cathal McCarthy, who came on early and earned a booking, along with Amir Hadziahmetovic, Liam Millar and Kasey Palmer, helped maintain their structure amid yellow cards for Babajide David Akintola and others.

Darko Gyabi is Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match after his crucial goal in the 12th minute, which turned out to be the winner for Hull City. He didn’t record any assists, big chances created or key passes, but his early strike from Kyle Joseph’s assist proved decisive in a tight contest. Gyabi’s contribution stood out in midfield, helping Hull secure the three points despite Middlesbrough’s pressure.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Hull City (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Blackburn Rovers (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Bristol City (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Queens Park Rangers (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Charlton Athletic (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Middlesbrough (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs West Bromwich Albion (H)
• Win: 3-1 vs Millwall (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Wrexham (H)

Middlesbrough have just suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Hull City, extending a patchy run that includes a draw with Blackburn Rovers and a loss to Bristol City, though they had wins over Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic before that. Sitting second on 43 points, they need to bounce back quickly to maintain their promotion push. Their next match is against Derby County, currently 14th on 32 points, on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, where a win could help them pull further clear at the top.

Hull City have just claimed a 1-0 away win over Middlesbrough, building on a solid recent form with a draw against Sheffield Wednesday and victories over West Bromwich Albion, Millwall and Wrexham. Currently fourth on 41 points, this result keeps them firmly in the play-off mix. They face Stoke City next, who are 10th on 34 points, on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, and three more points could see them climb closer to the automatic promotion spots.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.