Middlesbrough 0-1 Hull City: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Middlesbrough 0-1 Hull City in the Championship on Monday, 29 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Hull City grabbed a narrow 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside. The visitors struck early when Darko Gyabi slotted home in the 12th minute, assisted by Kyle Joseph, catching Boro on the back foot right from the off. Middlesbrough, who came into this on the back of a goalless draw with Blackburn and a loss to Bristol City, pushed hard to get back into it but couldn’t break down Hull’s defence despite dominating the ball.

As the game wore on, Boro made a triple change around the hour mark to try and spark something, but Hull held firm amid a flurry of yellow cards on both sides. The Tigers, riding high after recent wins over West Brom and Millwall, looked comfortable soaking up pressure and hitting on the break. In the end, that early goal proved decisive, leaving Middlesbrough frustrated and Hull celebrating a gritty away victory that keeps their good form rolling.

Middlesbrough bossed possession with over 70% of the ball, which showed in their 10 corners compared to Hull’s just two, pointing to Boro’s control in the attacking third without finding the killer touch. Dribbles were neck and neck, suggesting both sides had players willing to take opponents on, but Hull’s single assist led to their goal, while Boro drew a blank there. Cards piled up more for Hull with four yellows against Boro’s two, hinting at a scrappier approach from the visitors to disrupt the flow.

On the subs front, Middlesbrough used four changes, including a triple switch at 59 minutes where Delano Burgzorg replaced Kaly Sène, Sontje Hansen came on for Alex Gilbert, and Aidan Morris took over from Alan Browne, followed by Sverre Nypan replacing Tommy Conway at 85 minutes. Hull made five, starting early at six minutes with Cathal McCarthy replacing Ryan Giles, then Amir Hadziahmetovic for Joel Ndala and Liam Millar for Akin Famewo at 68 minutes, Oliver McBurnie for Kyle Joseph at 75, and Kasey Palmer for Lewie Coyle at 76 – all helping them manage the game and see out the win.

The game’s big moment came early when Darko Gyabi fired Hull ahead in the 12th minute, with Kyle Joseph providing the assist to give the visitors a lead they never let slip. Hull had to adjust quickly after Ryan Giles went off injured at six minutes, with Cathal McCarthy coming on, but they settled well and Gyabi’s strike set the tone. Yellow cards flew in, like Cathal McCarthy’s at 15 minutes, Babajide David Akintola at 30, Sergej Jakirović at 32, John Egan at 58, and Kyle Joseph at 64 for Hull, while Boro’s Luke Ayling and Sontje Hansen picked up bookings at 76 and 78 minutes respectively.

Middlesbrough tried to turn the tide with changes at 59 minutes, bringing on Delano Burgzorg for Kaly Sène, Sontje Hansen for Alex Gilbert, and Aidan Morris for Alan Browne, plus Sverre Nypan for Tommy Conway later at 85. Hull responded with their own tweaks, like Amir Hadziahmetovic replacing Joel Ndala and Liam Millar for Akin Famewo at 68, Oliver McBurnie for Kyle Joseph at 75, and Kasey Palmer for Lewie Coyle at 76, which helped shore things up and secure the points in a tense affair.

Middlesbrough lined up in a 4-2-2-2 shape, looking to build from the back and use width to create chances, with players like Tommy Conway pushing forward before his late substitution. Standout partnerships included the midfield duo involving Alan Browne, who was replaced by Aidan Morris at 59 minutes, aiming to control the game’s tempo. Up top, efforts from Alex Gilbert and Kaly Sène before their changes highlighted Boro’s intent to break down Hull’s defence.

Hull City set up in a 3-5-2 formation, focusing on a solid backline and quick transitions, which paid off with Darko Gyabi’s early goal. Key roles saw Kyle Joseph assisting before making way for Oliver McBurnie at 75 minutes, while wing-backs like Ryan Giles, subbed off early for Cathal McCarthy, and Lewie Coyle, replaced by Kasey Palmer at 76, provided width. Midfield partnerships, including Joel Ndala before Amir Hadziahmetovic came on at 68, helped them absorb pressure and counter effectively.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Darko Gyabi for his decisive contribution, bagging the only goal of the game in the 12th minute without any assists or big chances created from his side, but his strike was enough to seal the win. He stood out by making the most of Hull’s early opportunity, showing composure under pressure against a dominant Boro side. It was a performance that highlighted his importance in midfield, turning a tight match in the Tigers’ favour.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Hull City (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Blackburn Rovers (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Bristol City (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Queens Park Rangers (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Charlton Athletic (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Middlesbrough (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs West Bromwich Albion (H)
• Win: 3-1 vs Millwall (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Wrexham (H)

Middlesbrough have just suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Hull City, which follows a mixed run including a draw with Blackburn and losses to Bristol City, leaving them second on 43 points and eager to bounce back. Their next fixture is against Derby County on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, with Derby sitting 14th on 32 points after their own patchy form. A win here could help Boro solidify their top spot and keep the pressure on the leaders, especially as they chase promotion spots.

Hull City have just secured a 1-0 away victory over Middlesbrough, building on their strong recent form with draws and wins like against Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom, placing them fourth on 41 points. They face Stoke City next on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, with Stoke in 10th on 34 points and looking to climb the table themselves. This could be a chance for Hull to keep their momentum going and push for those automatic promotion places, making it a crucial clash in their season.

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