A SATISFIED Aitor Karanka last night underlined the importance of Middlesbrough’s 1-0 win over Hull City, claiming his side had proved their superiority over one of their key rivals.

Gaston Ramirez’s second-half header settled things at the Riverside Stadium, and lifted Boro to 13th in the Premier League table as they claimed their second victory in the space of three home games.

Hull accompanied Boro as they were promoted to the top-flight last season, but the two sides looked poles apart for large periods of last night’s game as the Teessiders comprehensively outplayed their opponents for long spells.

Karanka has consistently said that Boro’s fate will be determined by their performances against the teams in and around them in the table, and having seen off Bournemouth last month, the Spaniard was delighted to see his side take three points from a Hull side that look destined for a long, hard struggle in the bottom three.

“It is massive because they are a direct opponent,” said Karanka, who has seen his team lose just one of their last six games. “Apart from the score, we showed we are better than them. Going in this way, I am really confident.

“I am really pleased because we saw for 75 minutes that we were much better than them. We don’t have the experience other teams have, and for us, every single point is really important.

“I could imagine how the players felt on the pitch and how important were those points for us. I think it was a really good win. Having points on the table is important, and that will help us to add experience to keep fighting in the Premier League.”

Ramirez converted Viktor Fischer’s corner on the hour mark to settle things against his former side, and the Uruguayan was Boro’s most potent attacking presence for the majority of the night.

The home side’s victory was also a result of their impressive defensive efforts, with Ben Gibson and Calum Chambers once again combining effectively at the heart of the back four.

Gibson produced an excellent first-half tackle to prevent Adama Diomande breaking clear, while Chambers made a succession of important interventions as Hull attempted to haul themselves back into the game in the final half hour.

“Both Gibson and Chambers are playing really well,” said Karanka. “I am really pleased for both of them and for everybody. They are showing that this group is better than the other one (that won promotion last season).

“We have a really good squad and when I have to do the line-up I have problems. But I am pleased to have those problems.”

Gibson has been Boro’s key performer on a number of occasions this season, and like his manager, the centre-half was only too aware of the importance of claiming a victory last night.

It is all very well performing creditably against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, but survival will be secured by winning home games against teams like Hull.

“We have played well without getting results and we clung on, that was massive,” said Gibson. “You need to beat the teams which will be around you.

“Gaston Ramirez is very important for us, on any given day he can slice open a defence and it was a great finish. But you can’t get carried away with a win - we need to maintain our levels.”

Hull were poor throughout, with Victor Valdes tested for the first time in the 90th minute as he clawed away Diomande’s long-range strike.

Mike Phelan’s side are now four points and six places below Boro in the table, and continue to trail Sunderland on goal difference.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half,” said Hull centre-half Curtis Davies. “We hung in there and allowed too many crosses into the area.

“We tried to press them more in the second half, but we have conceded from a set-piece again, which has been our downfall this season.

“We know Gaston Ramirez well, he is not renowned for his heading ability but we gave him a free header in the box. Our first shot on target was in the 92nd minute, and that is not good enough.”