OVER the course of the last two months, Middlesbrough have picked up plenty of plaudits thanks to the quality of their performances.

Finally, they are also starting to get the points to go with them too.

Monday’s match-winning display against Hull City might not have matched Boro’s previous outings against Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester in terms of all-round quality, but the end result was arguably their most important of the season so far.

Having proved their capabilities against the big boys, it was imperative that Aitor Karanka’s side also revealed a ruthless streak when it came to putting away teams in the bottom half of the table, particularly at the Riverside.

October’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth was a decent start, establishing a healthy cushion between Boro and the bottom three, but the visit of a Hull City side displaying little or no attacking ambition was always going to present a different test.

That Boro passed it so fluently augurs well for the challenges that lie ahead. At times Monday’s game was hard viewing, such was the lack of goalmouth action for long periods and the defensive mind-set adopted by the visitors.

Ultimately, though, the Teessiders did what needed to be done. As a result, they find themselves four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a reasonably inviting run that will see three of their next four matches pit them against teams in the bottom nine positions in the table.

“It was a very important win,” said Gaston Ramirez, whose second-half header ultimately proved decisive on Monday night. “We have been playing well in the last six matches, but maybe we weren’t quite able to get the results that we deserved.

“We did that against Hull, and that was important. I thought we played well and created a lot of chances. It took a little while, but we got the goal and that meant we were able to come away with the win. It was a good night for all of us.”

Given how well they have been playing, it seems strange that Monday’s win was only Boro’s third success of the season.

Only Swansea City have claimed fewer top-flight victories, but Boro’s tally of six draws highlights just how hard it has been to beat them.

That will take you so far, but eventually it is the three-point tally that will count, and by hauling themselves to 13th position, Boro have engineered a situation where they can realistically begin to target the top half of the table if they can maintain the standards they have been setting in recent weeks.

“I think we’ve got some momentum now,” said Ramirez. “When you are playing well, it is important you make the most of that and get the points you deserve. We have moved up the table and I think we have deserved that.

“We have been playing well, but football is about results and we needed to get a couple of wins. We have got those (against Bournemouth and Hull) so hopefully now we can move forward.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how you play, the important thing is the result. But we have been playing well too and we just need to keep going like that now.”

Having dazzled with his dribbling skills against Bournemouth, Ramirez claimed his second goal of the season with a header against Hull, something that is not usually regarded as his forte.

“It is nice to score with a header,” said the Uruguayan. “I don’t get too many of them, but whatever - however you score, it is fantastic. I am very pleased for all the supporters. It was very cold out there, and I am pleased they got some reward for coming to the game. That victory was for them.”

Monday’s game showcased Boro’s defensive resolve and organisation, with Victor Valdes remaining untested until he was forced to claw away Adama Diomande’s 90th-minute strike.

The victory also highlighted Karanka’s tactical nous, with the Boro head coach having thought long and hard about whether to start with Viktor Fischer or Adama Traore on the left-hand side.

Karanka has been impressed with Traore’s impact since he forced his way into the first team, but in the end, he felt Fischer’s superior ball-retention skills might prove decisive. Ultimately, his call prove the correct one, with Fischer contributing to a host of attacking moves and delivering the corner that led to Ramirez’s goal.

“I felt we were going to have a lot of possession, and Adama is better when he can find spaces,” explained Karanka. “I knew Hull would defend most of the time, so I thought Viktor could be good coming inside from the left, creating space for Fabio. It was a difficult game for Adama - I thought we needed more possession against Hull.”