"What a difference a win makes" - The latest Boro blog
What a Difference a Win Makes.
By Rob Nichols
Boro 1-0 Hull City -Phew!
Three precious points in the bag and Boro have made one giant leap up the table.
But what a nervy final 15 minutes as we pulled back and invited Hull to come forward.
After the unhappy finale at Leicester with an injury time penalty given away it made for very difficult watching.
Yet there was to be no repeat of that mistake this time and what a difference that makes for both clubs.
Boro were almost totally dominant for the first hour. Vicktor Fischer came in for Traore but otherwise we remained unchanged from the side that should have beaten the Champions and pushed the possible champions elect, Chelsea, all the way. Gaston Ramirez, playing against a former club really turned on the style.
A superb little triangle between him, the also outstanding Forshaw and Negredo should have seen The Beast add to his brace from the last game. Negredo blazed over but continued to work hard as a target man. Boro were playing the ball around delightfully. We won corner after corner as our opponents were pressed back deeper and deeper.
Yet we almost got caught out on the break.It was a quite brilliant tackle from skipper Ben Gibson that prevented Hull from taking a completely undeserved lead.In the second half the pattern of play continued with Boro totally in control.
We kept up the corner count. Eventually we made the most of one. It was apt that it was Gaston Ramirez who headed home from right under the cross bar. Hull City had real problems now, they had come for a point and looked incapable of changing their game.
They immediately switched personnel to try to take the game to us. Boro now sat back and tasked the away team with finding ways past us. It was obvious just how precious we rated this particular 3 points to be. Forshaw and Clayton mopped up every second ball.
Fabio was everywhere down the left. Negredo ploughed his lone furrow with gusto. Fischer fluffed his lines in front of goal. Yet he had played impressively in what was a rare start for the Danish international. Stuani replaced him and blocked up a flank.
When Ramirez felt a twinge Downing came on to take over the left side.There were a couple of Hull corners that were too close for comfort and Valdez was called upon to make one finger tip save.
But the agony didn't last too long.
We made it.
So, that three points pushes us all the way up to 13th in the league. What a difference the win has made.
And relax.
Up The Boro!