HULL (4-2-3-1):
McGregor 5; Tomori 5, Dawson 4, Hector 3, Clark 4; Meyler 5, Stewart 3 (Dicko 46, 4); Bowen 5, Larsson 4 (GROSICKI 53, 6), Irvine 4; Campbell 4 (Diomande 67, 4).
Subs (not used): Marshall (gk), Henriksen, Lenihan, Aina.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-1-1):
6 Randolph: Had no chance with Grosicki’s goal and made a decent second-half save from Dicko
7 Christie: Made a succession of telling surges down the right and delivered a superb cross for Assombalonga’s header
9 AYALA: Produced his best performance for quite some time as he won everything that was thrown into the Boro box
7 Gibson: Complemented Ayala at the heart of the back four and came close with a second-half header that was saved
6 Fabio: Made a crucial clearance after Randolph spilled Irvine’s shot, but was struggling from an early stage and hobbled off just 11 minutes in
8 Downing: Another accomplished display from the midfielder, who controlled Boro’s counter-attacking in the second half
8 Leadbitter: Ran the game from the heart of midfield and made it two goals in two games with a clinical penalty
8 Howson: One of the summer signing’s best displays in a Boro shirt as he won a series of tackles and passed the ball effectively
6 Tavernier: Another impressively mature display from the teenager, who has cemented his place in the senior squad
8 Braithwaite: Was Boro’s most accomplished attacker for much of the night and scored an excellent opening goal
7 Assombalonga: Led the line with enthusiasm all evening, and claimed his eighth goal of the season with a neat back-post header
Subs:
6 Friend (for Fabio, 11): Proved a more than capable deputy as he defended stoutly and made a number of his trademark surges down the flank
Johnson (for Tavernier, 71)
Fletcher (for Assombalonga, 79)
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Fry, Forshaw, Traore.
Man Of The Match: DANIEL AYALA – Boro might have attacked effectively, but their win was built on the defensive reliability that stemmed from Ayala’s aerial dominance and well-timed tackling.
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