Gaston Ramirez widens gap between Middlesbrough and drop zone with victory against Hull

Middlesbrough inflicted a fifth successive league defeat against Hull on Monday night as they met at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro were frustrated by the visitors in the opening half and were not able to make their dominance count until the hour-mark.

It was Gaston Ramirez who headed in what was ultimately the winner, and it was no more than Boro deserved.

Despite the hosts rarely getting out of second gear, they came up against a Hull side who stalled and stuttered throughout, failing to take the game to their opponents - it was hardly a classic encounter but Boro will be grateful to pick up the three points, which sees them move up to 13th.

Hull meanwhile remain in the bottom three and the curse of playing Monday night football continues, having now failed to win eight Premier League matches in a row (D3 L5).

Hull hopelessly short of ideas: It never really got tricky for the hosts. Adama Diomande cut a frustrated figure up front for Hull as the Tigers' Plan A fell short of the mark - while Plan B was non-existent.

Boro chose to sit back after taking the lead and invited some Hull pressure, but the visitors rarely made Valdes work. That being said, the Tigers could have been level with a couple minutes to go but Diomande could not get on the end of Elmohamady’s flick. That was as close as it got for Hull.

The best player on the pitch was also the match-winner. Everything positive Boro did appeared to come through Ramirez, and that was down to his willingness to accept the ball and carry it forward. Credit must also go to Ben Gibson for a solid defensive display, which included a fine last-ditch tackle on Diomande, who barely got a sniff otherwise.

Middlesbrough: Valdes 6, Barragan 7, Chambers 6, Gibson 8, Fabio 7, Clayton 7, De Roon 6, Forshaw 7, Fischer 7, Ramirez 8, Negredo 6. Subs: Stuani 6, Downing 6.

Hull: Marshall 6; Elmohamady 7, Davies 6, Dawson 7, Robertson 6; Snodgrass 6, Livermore 6, Clucas 6, Mason 5, Henriksen 4; Diomande 6. Subs: Bowen 6, Huddlestone 6.

7’ - JUST OVER! First real chance of the game and it falls to Negredo. It's a great break and Negredo attempts his effort inside the Hull area with the outside of his left boot instead of his right and it sails over the bar.

11’ - SAVE! Another chance for Boro, and it's Ramirez who works it into a shooting position before unleashing an effort from 20 yards out. It's parried away to safety by Marshall.

21’ - SAVE! Forshaw's effort from 20 yards out forces a fine stop from Marshall, who turns it round for a corner. But that comes to nothing and Hull clear.

32’ - OFFSIDE! It appears Boro have taken the lead but the offside flag is up. The cross comes in and Negredo heads it back across goal to Fischer, who appears to handball it as he brings it down in an offside position before shooting.

60’ - GOAL!!! Ramirez puts Boro 1-0 up! Fischer swings in a corner and there is Ramirez unmarked to head it in off the post. The Boro man peeled off Diomande and headed into the ground beyond Robertson on the far post. Boro deservedly ahead!

76’ - JUST OVER! Fabio does well down the left and crosses in from the byline, Negredo leaps highest but his header has little power and it's just over the bar.

90+2’ - Wow. A cross or a shot? Not sure, but Diomande's whipped effort is delfected and Valdes is forced to turn it round for a corner. The cross comes in and Elmohamady flicks it on - Diomande is inches away from connecting and that was the chance Hull were looking for. But they can't make it count...

Gaston Ramirez’s effort was Middlesbrough’s sixth headed goal of the season – only West Ham and Crystal Palace (8 each) have scored more in the Premier League.

Indeed, only West Ham (53%) have scored a higher proportion of headed goals in the Premier League this season than Middlesbrough (46% - 6/13).

Hull are winless in their last nine away league games against Middlesbrough (D1 L8), since a 2-1 win in March 1986.

The Tigers have lost their last five Premier League away games – their worst run in the division since a run of six in April 2010.

Viktor Fischer mustered six shots in this game, the most by a Middlesbrough player in a single Premier League match this season.

Middlesbrough have won two of their last three Premier League home games – as many as they’d won in their previous 18 at the Riverside in the division.