Hull City 1 Middlesbrough 4: Hell-ball announces itself at Boro as Tigers afforded hellish first-half
FOR THE second time in three seasons, this fixture between Hull City and Middlesbrough was subject to a delayed kick-off.
Back in April 2024, it was because a nearby level crossing was broken.
On Friday night, a combination of poor weather and the Boro coach turning up late meant the start was put back 15 minutes.
It was the only slow thing about the visitors on the night. By half-time, they were four unanswered goals up to the good, incredibly.
With just one away win to their name since August 23, Boro did something about that. For new manager Kim Hellberg, it couldn't have got much better in his maiden away match in charge. It was brave as he promised and brilliant at times.
David Strelec's second Boro goal - and first since September 19 - put them on their way.
Alex Gilbert, a surprise name in the visiting line-up in his first start in the league since the final day of 2023-24, made hay out east for the second time in 2025.
On New Year's Day, he scored Boro's late winner and here, he grabbed his second goal of the calendar year at the same venue.
Morgan Whittaker added a third - his fourth in successive games - and there was still time for more as Riley McGree plundered another before the half-time whistle.
On paper, it looked like the Sky Sports overlords surely could not have picked a better-looking appetiser to start off their Christmas rush of live EFL games during the festive month of December.
It pitted a Hull side seeking to jump six positions to third place with victory against an opponent in Boro who currently occupy the second automatic promotion slot.
Throw in a head coach in Hellberg who was stepping out for his first away game in charge of Boro alongside a fair dollop of the ex-factor as well.
Former Boro boys Ryan Giles and Matt Crooks lined up in amber and black, while Alfie Jones was in opposing colours on his first return to East Yorkshire since his summer move from the Tigers.
The relatively ‘local’ aspect of the fixture, pitting East Riding against North Riding, also added to the mix. It ended up being very one-sided, more especially in an appalling first half offering from City.
Oli McBurnie, Liam Miller and Charlie Hughes were welcome returnees on the bench for Hull, while Amir Hadziahmetovic and Kyle Joseph started from the off. Darko Gyabi and Joel Ndala dropped to the bench, with John Lundstram absent with another frustrating injury concern.
Upon inspection of Boro’s teamsheet, it was clear that Hellberg’s pledge to do things his way and be bold in an attacking sense following his arrival was more than mere words. His three changes at Hull were eye-catching ones in a line-up not exactly overblown with defensive options on a wet and wild night, weather wise.
The conjecture about Boro's line-up soon dissipated. Aided by mistakes galore from a Hull side who simply could not deal or cope with the visitors' fluidity at all - and left a chasm of space in transition and looked spooked, it was a feast of Hell-ball and yielded four goals and started answering the charge that Boro weren't ruthless enough in front of goal.
A wretched half from a home perspective, and a sparsely believable one from the visitors started badly and got a whole lot worse in the final 15 minutes of a torrid half for Hull, who gradually lost the middle of the pitch and looked error-prone and susceptible at the back.
Boro's formation was something akin to 4-2-2-2 and caused a heap of damage.
Strelec got things under way on nine minutes.
Hayden Hackney, a class apart in the first period while some others in Boro's jerseys not far behind, powered forward, unopposed from a short goalkick.
He feed McGree, another to enjoy himself immensely, and his cut-back found Whittaker.
Under pressure from Regan Slater, the ball dropped invitingly for Strelec, who swivelled in an instant and fired home a clinical shot into the roof of the net.
Hull - who survived a penalty appeal when referee Dean Whitestone was rightly unmoved when Tommy Conway tumbled theatrically under pressure from Joe Gelhardt - at least had the scoreboard as their friend at this stage. But the way they were letting Hackney dictate was alarming.
Strelec dragged a shot wide after Semi Ajayi's error, but the reprieve was short.
Conway intercepted John Egan's clearance and teed up Gilbert, who blasted home an unstoppable low piledriver.
It was 3-0 soon after as Hull's fitful defensive traits again kicked in.
Gelhardt played a dodgy pass inside from Slater, who was dispossessed by Gilbert. He found Whittaker, who fired home a well-placed curler past Ivor Pandur.
A dreadful half for Hull ended suitably badly.
Conway and Hackney were involved and found Alex Bangura on the left and his cut-back was finished by McGree at the second time of asking.
Understandable boos arrived at the interval from home punters and there was a festive party feel in the away sections as Christmas came early.
Two changes arrived at the interval for Hull with Charlie Hughes and Mohamed Belloumi entering the fray.
After taking a beating to their pride, City showed spirit at least after the break. A first shot on target arrived on 56 minutes and a penalty provided something for those of an amber and black persuasion who kept behind their side when Gelhardt fired in after Sol Brynn was penalised for a trip on him.
But it was Boro's night, by some distance.
Hull City: Pandur; Coyle, Ajayi, Egan, Giles; Hadziahmetovic (Hughes HT), Slater (Akintola 75); Joseph (Belloumi HT), Crooks, Gelhardt (Gyabi 74); Destan (Millar 65). Substitutes unused: Phillips, McBurnie, Ndala, Famewo.
Middlesbrough: Brynn; Brittain, Jones, Target, Bangura (Edmundson 68); Hackney, McGree (Burgzorg 86); Whittaker (Nypan 79), Gilbert, Conway (Silvera 68); Strelec (Sene 79). Substitutes unused: McLaughlin, Hamilton, Hansen, McCormick.
Referee: D Whitestone (Northants). Attendance: 21,105.