Hull City v Middlesbrough - Grant McCann’s simple message to Tigers

Perhaps more concerning is their recent record against their direct relegation rivals.

The Tigers’ previous four meetings with sides in and around the drop-zone have yielded the sum total of no points.

Being taken apart by the likes of promotion-chasing Leeds and Brentford is one thing, but home losses to Huddersfield, Barnsley and Charlton, punctuated by a 5-1 drubbing at Stoke, provide a fairly damning indictment.

City were within touching distance of the play-off places on New Year’s Day, however they have been in free-fall ever since and now find themselves back in the bottom three following Huddersfield’s victory over Birmingham on Wednesday.

Up next is a showdown with Middlesbrough - another of their fellow strugglers - a fixture that Grant McCann’s men desperately need to ensure that they come away from with some kind of a result.

Hull absolutely cannot afford to reproduce the kind of uninspiring displays which were served up at the KCOM during 1-0 reverses to the Tykes and more recently Charlton, and the message from their head coach is uncomplicated.

Asked what his players need to do differently against Boro, he replied: “Win. It’s as simple as that.

“We approached those games like we approached every game this season. Unfortunately we weren’t on the right end of the result, so we’ve got to make sure we approach this game like we did the first half at Birmingham [where they led 2-0 before drawing 3-3].

“If we can do that for longer periods then we put ourselves in a much better position to get a result.”

Last six games: Hull City LLLLLD; Middlesbrough LLDWLW

Referee: G Eltringham (Durham).

Last time: Hull 1 Boro 1, September 29, 2018, Championship.