HIS Middlesbrough side had just produced their most accomplished display of the season, but as he sat in the press room of Hull City’s KCOM Stadium, Garry Monk’s thoughts were with the man he was supposed to be crossing swords with at the weekend.

From his time at Swansea City, when he was dismissed despite his status as a club stalwart, Monk knows just how volatile football can be. Even so, he struggles to comprehend that he will not be facing Simon Grayson on the touchline during Sunday’s Tees-Wear derby with Sunderland.

“I’m gutted for Simon,” said Monk, who learned of Grayson’s sacking just minutes after his side completed a comprehensive 3-1 win courtesy of goals from Martin Braithwaite, Britt Assombalonga and Grant Leadbitter. “Simon’s a great manager, and a really good guy as well.

“Especially at this level, I don’t really understand the decision. Everyone knew what he was going to be walking into. It was always going to be extremely difficult, and it was always going to be a transition season for Sunderland.

“There was no better man to take that job. Does football surprise you? Not really. But in terms of what’s happened, it’s a bit mind-boggling for me. Simon was the perfect candidate and I feel for him. It’s not a nice thing, and it’s undeserved if we’re all honest about it.”

Prior to Monk taking his seat for his press conference, Hull boss Leonid Slutsky delivered a downbeat assessment of his own job prospects, effectively inviting the Humberside club’s rulers to dismiss him if they are concerned about the Tigers’ position in the bottom half of the table.

Like Hull and Sunderland, Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League last season, albeit in a much more healthy financial position.

While their fellow relegated clubs are saddled with owners who are looking to sell, Steve Gibson has maintained his financial support for his hometown team. Nevertheless, Hull and Sunderland’s plight underline just how difficult it can be to come to terms with life in the second tier.

“I’m fully aware that, statistically, it is very difficult for the teams that are asked to respond to coming out of the top division,” said Monk. “Even in terms of making the play-off positions, it has been statistically very difficult.

“We’re fully aware of that, but the commitment of our players from day one has been excellent, and in this recent period we’ve worked hard and stuck together and, albeit for only two games, I think we’ve seen a big step forward. Now, we have to maintain it.”

Having claimed a 2-0 win at Reading on Saturday, Boro stepped up another gear last night as they casually swatted aside Hull to move level on points with Leeds United, who currently fill the final play-off position.

“It was very pleasing,” said Monk. “I’m very pleased for the players. In terms of how two away games go, it doesn’t get much better than that. The performance levels were very good, and we’re obviously pleased with the points we’ve taken it and the goals we’ve scored.

“The only negative was their goal, but even that was out of nothing really. It was thoroughly deserved in both of the last two games, and that’s very good to see.

“We’ve asked the players to correct a few things, and they’ve done that. It’s about getting the balance right between defending and attacking, and we’ve looked at what we want it to look like. It’s been good to see that in the last two games, and that’s credit to the players for listening, taking it on board and putting it into their performances.

“Both performances have deserved the three points and deserved the goals that we’ve scored. We could have done with scoring that third goal a bit earlier to take the pressure off, but I thought we took care of them defensively very well and looked a dangerous team on the attack as well. It’s been a good week so far, but we have another game coming and we need to turn it into a great one.”