Good evening and welcome to a crucial evening in the fight for Premier League survival as Hull City welcome Middlesbrough. Tigers coach Marco Silva will be looking to extend his side's good run at home, while Boro caretaker boss Steve Agnew is still searching for a first win in charge.

Indeed, Silva has not lost a home game as a coach for three, stretching back to his time in Portugal with Estoril. However, City remain in the bottom three, albeit only a point behind Swansea going into tonight's games.

Defeat for Boro and it could be goodbye to their hopes of top-flight survival. As well as the game at the KCOM, Bournemouth, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Swansea are in action this evening and we will keep up-to-date with all the goings on at the bottom as it happens.

Without further ado, let's look at the team news from Humberside...

HULL CITY XI: Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson, Grosicki, N'Diaye, Clucas, Markovic, Niasse, Hernandez

HULL SUBS: Meyler, Maloney, Diomande, Dawson, Henriksen, Marshall, Goebel

BORO XI: Valdes, Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Husband, Traore, Clayton, De Roon, Downing, Negredo, Gestede

BORO SUBS: Bernardo, Leadbitter, Guzan, Stuani, Bamford, Guedioura, Forshaw

So, Stewart Downing will make his 400th Premier League appearance this evening (his 203rd for Boro). Gaston Ramirez misses out with an ankle injury. The Teesiders injury list already includes Calum Chambers, Fabio and George Friend. Negredo and Gestede will lead the line for the visitors.

For Hull, Tom Huddlestone is still suspended and Evandro is not ready to return following a lengthy layoff. However, the Tigers will have the likes of Kamil Grosicki in midfield, the experienced Andrea Ranocchia, as well as Abel Hernandez in attack.

For Boro, the task of staying up is becoming increasingly difficult. They currently lie five points adrift of safety and the last victory came on December 17 at Swansea. However, the problem has been in the final third of the pitch rather than in defence. Indeed, their backline is still the fifth best in the division.

That said, Hull will be in no mood to lose today...

Despite Middlesbrough's run of late, there is a chance for them to turn that around before the end of this month. Steve Agnew's side face a number of the teams around them, including local rivals Sunderland. What price a great escape? Some bookmakers have the Teesiders 1/12 to drop into the Championship.

Boro have also lost their last two league games against the Tigers, but have never lost three-in-a-row. However, despite the statistics, Agnew is in a positive mood:

He told reporters: "A win does change everything, and that's what we need. It's a huge challenge and an exciting fixture. We've had limited time on the grass, but the preparation from the final whistle at Swansea has been terrific and I can feel the players are in a good place.

"I'm quietly confident and so are the players. They'll be fully focused going into the game."

Silva, however, is demanding a high level of intensity from his players.

He is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "We have a game against one of our direct opponents and we have be at 100% to win this game.

"The system we play is not the most important thing. Our intensity and performance is the most important factor."

PREDICTION: With kickoff only minutes away at the KCOM, it is time for a prediction and it is hard to see past a Hull side who have found form against a Boro desperately trying to find some. I'll plump for 2-1 to the Tigers and for Silva's team to be out of the bottom three by the end of proceedings!

Remember, Sports Mole will have all the action from tonight's Premier League games and we will keep you updated throughout the evening as the goals go in.

The teams are out on the pitch at the KCOM. We are moments away now!

KICKOFF: Let battle commence!

Already, the hosts are on attack. Grosicki tries to whip a cross in and Barragan cuts it out. The corner is then cleared away and Boro get out of their own area.

OFFSIDE! Hull have the ball in the net, but it's ruled out by the officials. Markovic crosses for Niasse who tucks away, but in vein.

As soon as I said Hull were starting well, they fall behind! Negredo's great pass finds Traore in space. The winger cuts in and shoots wildly. Thankfully for Boro, his wayward effort became the perfect cross for the Spaniard to tap in. A rare goal for him!

CLOSE! Grosicki again involved as Hull look for an immediate response. Played towards Hernandez, but the visitors scramble it away.

SHOT! Another chance for Hull and this time it's Markovic who is provider, with a pimpoint cross for Grosicki, who blasts over the bar.

Well, Hull have been on the front foot, but Boro concede in calamitous fashion! Robertson hits a dangerous cross. Gibson tries to clear and makes a mess of it and Markovic is close by to tap home.

CHANCE! Traore nearly restores Boro's lead after Downing teed him up. However, his shot is blocked.

YELLOW CARD: Clucas is the first in the book for a foul on De Roon. It was in the centre circle and a needless card.

Markovic finds a ball for Niasse after beating Clayton, but Markovic was deemed to have fouled Ayala.

UPDATE: All action at the bottom of the table! Swansea lead at home to Tottenham, while Benik Afobe has put Bournemouth ahead at Anfield.

Hernandez has a free kick out wide and aims for Niasse, but the set-piece comes to nothing. As we were updating you, Hernandez had another free kick, which he tried to curl into the corner, but it ended up wide of Valdes's goal.

FOUL! Another free kick for the hosts. This time De Roon flies in on N'Diaye. Poor challenge!

In truth, Middlesbrough made their own problems conceding several set-pieces in a matter of minutes. This time, a couple from N'Diaye and Hernandez sees the ball arrive in Niasse's path and the Everton loanee slots it into the left corner. Not great from the visitors!

City are now looking calm and collected, while Middlesbrough are throwing players forward in a bid to get back on terms. Since his goal, I can't remember mentioning Negredo's name, only Traore is providing a constant threat up front!

SAVE! I spoke too soon. Jakupovic gets down to stop Negredo's close-range header.

Almost immediately, Hull break out of defence and Maguire's through ball cuts Boro to pieces! Grosicki duly tees up Hernandez for the easiest of finishes. A long way back from here!

SAVE! Jakupovic saves again. Downing plays a deft ball in the direction of Gestede, who tries to guide a header into the top corner.

Boro have a corner and Downing takes, but it's too close to Jakupovic. N'Diaye makes sure by volleying the ball in the direction of Row Z.

CLOSE! Well, Negredo has burst to life in recent minutes. The Spaniard tries his luck from distance and it's a great effort, with plenty of whip on the ball, but just wide! Better from Boro and it needs to be!

UPDATE: Palace, Swansea and Bournemouth all lead so far. As things stand, Southampton are only four points above the drop.

Traore wins a free kick in his own half. He has shown plenty of willing so far.

Well, that is just what Boro needed, but the goal should not stand. De Roon does his bit and heads home. However, the midfielder is a country mile offside. Michael Oliver has missed one there!

Incidentally, we are in the first of three added minutes.

And breathe! Well, we were not short of action. Boro belie their previous goal drought and score twice. Problem is their supposedly strong defence has conceded three. As it stands, the Teesiders will be further adrift, but there is another 45 minutes before we get to that point. I just hope it's as good.

STATS: Interestingly, Middlesbrough have had more of the ball (56%) and more efforts at goal (12 to Hull's 8), but Hull have had the better of things for the most part and they have scored with all their efforts on target.

We will back underway in a few moments. Christian Stuani and Patrick Bamford lie in wait on the Boro bench, if they need to throw more players up front.

KICKOFF: We are back underway. My prediction that Hull will out of the bottom three is not looking so good, but Bournemouth have been pegged back Anfield.

FOUL! Boro have a free kick and Downing delivers into the area. However, Gibson is penalised for a push on Maguire.

De Roon latches on to a good pass from Gestede, but his cross is deflected for a corner. Meanwhile, Hernandez is down in a heap and I reckon his game has come to an end. Evandro is warming up.

HULL SUB: Indeed, Evandro is on in place of Hernandez. This marks a return from a lengthy injury layoff for the forward.

CHANCE! Niasse threatens again after good build-up play from Grosicki and Robertson. However, Gibson gets a timely block to deny the forward.

Grosicki involved again as he breezes past the challenge of Barragan before Traore blocks his cross. From the corner, Grosicki is again on the ball, but sees his effort blocked by Negredo. Boro have all hands on deck at the back.

SAVE! Valdes keeps Middlesbrough in touch with a solid save from N'Diaye, who was slipped in by a deft pass from Evandro. Boro are getting ready to make their first change.

BORO SUB: Husband, who was just muscled out by N'Diaye has seen his last action. Guedioura is coming on in his place.

UPDATE: As we mentioned, Liverpool are level after Bournemouth led at Anfield. West Ham trail against Arsenal. Swansea and Palace still lead!

Gibson denies Niasse again. The defender produces a great sliding tackle to thwart the Senegalese forward as he was about to pull the trigger.

Maguire heads over from another Grosicki cross. Although Boro have looked more settled in defence, Barragan has been given a working over by the Polish international.

Niasse denied space yet again! Ayala is latest Middlesbrough player to get a block in, but Hull seem to have earmarked Barragan as a weak spot in the backline.

Is it fair to say that both sides are looking out of gas? Traore has a cross cleared by El Mohamady. Hull try to break out, but can't do so with any venom.

Just as I say, the energy had left the game, Hull score a fourth and surely a winning goal! A simple move and Robertson crosses for Maguire at the back post and his header goes across Valdes into the left corner.

BORO SUB: Bamford is on in place of Negredo. Surely too much to expect him to inspire a fightback at this stage?

CLOSE! Nearly another for the hosts as Niasse combines with Markovic before firing just wide. Gaps in the Boro backline, but understandable given the uphill task.

UPDATE: Elsewhere, Bournemouth had led at Anfield, but now trail 2-1. Swansea continue to hold out against Spurs and Palace are level at Southampton. West Ham are perilously close to the relegation zone as it stands.

HULL SUB: Maguire has picked up an injury and his boss wastes no time in replacing him with Dawson.

UPDATE: Palace have now fallen behind at St Mary's. The Eagles had won their last four, but will be only one point above the drop tonight.

CHANCE! Grosicki was set to add a fifth, but Ayala came from nowhere to deny the Pole. Clearly, he and Boro are not giving up.

YELLOW CARD: N'Diaye gets a late card for hauling down Traore. The winger has been in the wars in recent minutes!

UPDATE: Spurs have equalised and that means that Hull will be out of the bottom three as it stands. I did tell you at the start!

HULL SUB: Grosicki, who has been outstanding is off to be replaced by Henriksen.

Five minutes of added time at the KCOM.

UPDATE: A big turnaround in South Wales. Spurs are 3-1 up at the Liberty Stadium and Swansea will be firmly in the bottom three.

Niasse tries to cross, but no there's Hull player in sight. In fairness, the Tigers have taken the sting out of this. Speaking of sting, I have a sizeable wasp keen to watch the end of this game from the edge of my computer. Could get interesting in a different way than I imagined at half time!

Well, I promised a night of drama at the foot of the Premier League and that is what we've had! Hull, who were once thought to have been sunk without a trace, are out of the relegation zone and Middlesbrough, once comfortably away from the bottom three are heading further from safety. Follow all the news and reaction here with Sports Mole. However, from myself it's bye for now!