By User:Anthony Winward, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50559911
After losing six consecutive league games, Hull’s recent results have improved, going W1-D2-L1 after 90 minutes in their next four. Worryingly for Tigers fans though, this doesn’t tell the whole picture. Both West Brom and Southampton should have been out of sight at half-time, they were dominated away at Sunderland and although they beat Newcastle on penalties in the EFL Cup, the Championship side bossed proceedings.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have been steadily improving with their only defeat in their last five against high-flying Chelsea despite also facing Man City and Arsenal. Defensively they’ve looked solid and organised, conceding just four times in this sequence and although their record at the Riverside is just W1-D1-L4, Aitor Karanka will fancy his side’s chances against a Hull outfit that have lost their last four road games. Mike Phelan’s men have conceded 15 times in this run whilst scoring just twice themselves.
Indeed, the home win to nil has most appeal, especially with Abel Hernandez still sidelined for Hull who struggle to threaten going forward without him – they’ve failed to score in seven of the last 11 matches he’s missed – and in particularl against a well drilled Boro defence.
Best Bet: Middlesbrough Win to Nil at 2.7
