MIDDLESBROUGH‘S winless run stretched to six games as they slipped to tenth in the Championship table after a 1-0 defeat at Hull City.

Robbie Brady’s free-kick midway through the second half was enough to sink Boro, who are now seven points behind sixth-placed Brighton with five games remaining.

And worryingly for the Teessiders, they might miss out on a top ten finish with teams below them gaining ground fast.

Mowbray made two changes with Jonathan Woodgate and Andy Halliday coming in for Andre Bikey and George Friend, who suffered a tear to his hamstring in the goalless draw with Peterborough United on Tuesday night.

There was little of note in the first ten minutes with both sides failing to take the upper hand, but Boro’s first meaningful attack came through Sammy Ameobi when he jinked his way past three Hull players, but the man on loan from Newcastle could only direct his low shot wide.

It wasn’t until the 25th minute when the Tigers properly tested Jason Steele in the Boro goal, Robert Koren sending a rasping drive towards goal that the keeper did well to turn wide.

Robbie Brady almost caught Steele out with that a deep cross that was swirling towards the top corner, while George Boyd hit the side netting with a powerful effort.

Boro seemed happy to sit back and attempt to hit their hosts on the break and a brilliant chance fell to Ishmael Miller, but he could only head wide from Ameobi’s dinked cross.

A mistake from Rhys Williams almost gifted Hull an opening when he past to James Chester six yards out, but Justin Hoyte managed to get in the way of the defender’s shot to send the ball away from danger.

Andre Bikey was brought on at half time for Woodgate and he was called into action straight away when he made a crucial interception to stop Quinn’s through-ball reaching Gedo in the box.

The deadlock came in the 62nd minute when Robbie Brady’s free-kick found its way into the top corner after Josh McEachran had been penalised for a foul on Stephen Quinn.

Mowbray reacted by making a double change with Scott McDonald and Merouane Zemmama replacing Sammy Ameobi and Mustapha Carayol, but it was the hosts who continued to dominate.

Steele saved Jay Simpson’s shot from 12 yards, while Boro did threaten when Bikey saw his header from Leadbiter’s corner cleared off the line.

David Stockdale then saved from McDonald, but Boro couldn’t find a way through in what was a very tame performance.