Monday's game between the Championships two in-form sides has even more on it because of Hull City's "worst 45 minutes" of the season.

Hull and Middlesbrough had disappointing draws on Boxing Day on the back of runs of four wins and one loss in their previous five Championship games, keeping them right in the promotion race.

But the Tigers' defeat was not just any old loss, it was a 4-1 thumping at home to a Boro side who scored their goals unanswered before half-time.

"That 45 minutes was probably the worst 45 minutes we've had since the gaffer came in," said Hull's ex-Middlesbrough player Matt Crooks. "It will be good to go up there and prove a point.

"It gives us that extra incentive.

"We'll have conversations in the changing room, we know we weren't good enough but it's not one to dwell on, it's not one to move on from.

"There's still slight momentum from Boxing Day (a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday) because we haven’t lost but we'll all go to Middlesbrough knowing we can play better.

"It's going to be a difficult game, they're playing well – second in the league, new manager, new style of play. (But) we're fourth in the league, We've got to believe in ourselves."

POINT TO PROVE: Hull City's Matt Crooks celebrates his Boxing Day goal at Hillsborough (Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

placeholder image — POINT TO PROVE: Hull City's Matt Crooks celebrates his Boxing Day goal at Hillsborough (Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Boro have a defensive injury crisis after Alfie Jones, George Edmundson and Matt Targett added to their problems by coming off at home to Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

Despite that, full-back Callum Brittain is bullish, as well he might be with a five-point cushion to third-placed Ipswich Town.

"It's a tough league, it's heavy on the legs, it's heavy on the body," he said.

"Anything can happen in the Championship, it's a crazy league. We just need to be consistent, we need to keep performing the way we have done and take our chances.

BRITT OF ALL RIGHT: Callum Brittain celebrates Middlesbrough's victory at Hull City three weeks ago (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

"If we can put a little bit of a run together, it's a great period to do that."

It is similar for Hull, behind Ipswich on goal difference.

"It's real wide open with a lot of teams to-ing and fro-ing," said Crooks. "There's so many games left but we're in the right position to try and make a push for promotion or play-offs.

"We've got a belief as a collective that we've got the players and the squad to make a real charge for it. We spoke about it in Dublin (in pre-season), about having that belief."

Hull’s Mohamed Belloumi is a doubt after going off with cramp at Hillsborough. Cody Drameh has back pain and John Lundstram is still a week away.