Middlesbrough have moved into 13th place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Hull City.
Boro dominated for much of the game in the North-East but it was a header from Gaston Ramirez which made the difference.
Hull rarely threatened but they came within inches of netting an undeserved equaliser when Adama Diomande was heavily involved in the closing stages.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Riverside Stadium.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you for the Champions League fixtures tomorrow night. Goodbye for now.
The full-time whistle has gone at the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough have held on to secure a potentially important win over Hull. Despite the scoreline, the home team were fully deserving of their victory and can now look to moving towards mid-table. As for Hull, they remain in the relegation zone.
SHOT! What a strike from Diomande! The striker cut in from the left-hand side before firing a ferocious strike towards the top corner. Valdes was equal to it, however, as he tipped the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, the forward came within inches of sliding in from close range after Elmohamady's header.
SUBSTITUTION! An injury brings Ramirez's night to an end with Stewart Downing coming on in his place.
CHANCE! It's not the clearest of chances but a chance nevertheless. Dawson was found in space around 14 yards out but his header - albeit on target - was never going to be Valdes.
CHANCE! Fischer has had a good game for Boro tonight but he should be finding the target after cutting onto his right foot inside the penalty area. Unfortunately, he can only curl the ball over the far post. That's his lack action of the game as he is replaced by Cristhian Stuani.
CHANCE! Clucas doesn't pose the biggest threat in the air and it's probably why he wasn't marked in the Middlesbrough penalty area when meeting Snodgrass's corner. He can't get his header on target, though, and it goes several yards over.
CHANCE! Fabio gets to the byline and is able to deliver a floated ball towards Negredo. The Spaniard is able to beat his marker in the air but he can't get any power behind his header and Marshall makes the easy save.
Ramirez has been class in this game and a headed knockdown from the midfielder releases Fischer into the book. The winger has the confidence to take on his man but his shot is deflected wide for a corner.
Middlesbrough still have a certain swagger to their attacking play but they are more aware of what is coming back at them now. It will be interesting to see what Karanka's first change will be. It may be Traore so that he can use his pace to force Hull's wide men back.
Hull are definitely taking a more direct approach to this game now but the main strength of Middlesbrough's game is their defending and it may take something special to stop the home team winning this match.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Phelan acts instantly by removing both Livermore and Mason for Huddlestone and Bowen. They need to find something different in this game now and Middlesbrough may actually have some defending to do.
Middlesbrough finally have the breakthrough! A corner from the left finds Ramirez, who is able to head into the corner from eight yards out after losing the attentions of Diomande. Hull are wasting no time in changing things up...
There's no doubting that Hull would be delighted with a goalless draw from this match. I'm surprised because they need to make the most of matches like this and in the long run, can they really rely on getting enough points on the board from tougher fixtures?
A rampaging run from Ramirez is brought to a halt by Livermore, who has already been booked. It doesn't quite warrant a second caution but Middlesbrough have a free kick in a threatening position. However, Ramirez's shot hits the wall and goes behind for a corner.
The home side are continuing to control this match but you can start to feel the frustration at the Riverside. There are still 39 minutes plus added-on time to go but they recognise that it's only going to get tougher.
Middlesbrough are soon back on the offensive and Hull begin to panic when Marshall fails to deal with a high ball after pressure from Negredo. The ball comes back out to Ramirez but he can't find the target.
The half-time whistle goes at the Riverside Stadium and despite Boro's dominance, we remain goalless. I don't think Karanka will be too discouraged with his side's performance over the opening 45 minutes, however. They just need to have a finishing touch to one of their chances.
What a tackle from Gibson! A long ball finds Diomande and it appears that the striker will score with one of his first touches in the last half-hour but just as he is about to shoot, Gibson slides in to dispossess him.
CHANCE! Negredo gets himself into a position where he should head Middlesbrough into the lead but despite meeting Forshaw's cross, he somehow manages to head wide of the target from inside the six-yard box. That's the second time he has been wasteful when he should have scored.
SHOT! Dawson manages to get a head in front of a Fischer shot which would have forced a save out of Marshall but it almost takes the ball into the bottom corner. It goes wide, however, and nothing comes from the corner.
As soon as Hull lose possession - which has occurred a lot of times - they are retreating back into their own half and it turns into a game of attack versus defence. Unless Boro score, I imagine that will remain the case.
Middlesbrough have the ball in the net through Fischer but the referee soon decides to chalk the goal off. I'm not sure if it was for offside or handball when collecting Negredo's knockdown but both were correct.
Fischer is growing into this game and he thinks he can find the far corner with a shot from 16 yards. He's denied by a block but wins a corner instead, although it comes to nothing. Still, more bright signs from the home side.
We cannot say that Middlesbrough have controlled this match from the opening whistle to now but they are creating all of the good chances in this game. Some of their approach play has been excellent too and Hull need to find a way to stifle their efforts in the final third. Ramirez is being given too much time and space.
SHOT! Snodgrass receives a pass but he is soon crowded out by four players and Boro surge forward. Forshaw's shot from 20 yards towards the bottom corner is a good one but Marshall is able to tip the ball away from goal.
Fabio wins a corner for Middlesbrough after his cross is blocked by Clucas but they attempt to play a short one and mess it up completely. That was a waste.
BOOKING! Livermore is the first man into the referee's book after following through in a challenge on Barragan. Right decision.
SHOT! Hull win a corner and the low delivery finds Dawson who sets up Clucas. However, he sends a difficult half-volley high over the crossbar from around 16 yards out.
SHOT! Ramirez has been a key player for Middlesbrough this season and he almost opens the scoring with a 20-yard strike after being teed up by Clayton. It was a decent connection but Marshall was able to punch the ball away from goal.
Hull are playing some good stuff without carrying much of a threat when they get the ball within 30 yards of goal. Diomande is having the ball fired into him to hold up but so far, it's not sticking.
CHANCE! It's been a cagey start but Middlesbrough should go ahead with the first chance of the game. Ramirez and De Roon combined to set up Negredo inside the penalty area but after deciding to strike a half-volley with the outside of his foot, his effort went over from 12 yards out.
Nothing in the way of changes so far but Fabio has set the tone with a strong challenge on Snodgrass. He won the ball but Snodgrass didn't look too impressed. Both teams have had some possession but we haven't come near an opportunity on goal.
The two teams have made their way out at the Riverside Stadium. It's far from a capacity crowd in the North-East but there's usually a good atmosphere at Middlesbrough, especially in closely-matched games such as this one.
FORM! Middlesbrough have only record six points from their last five games but given they have played Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea during that time, it's a very good return. A win tonight would make it nine points from six games, which is survival form.
As for Hull, they have come through their last three games at the KCOM Stadium in all competitions without suffering a defeat but they have lost their last four on the road in the Premier League. The teams are well matched up but Hull could find it tough should Middlesbrough click into gear.
PREDICTION! When Middlesbrough have hosted this fixture, there has never been a goalless draw - we are hoping that record continues tonight! We are expecting a tight game but we expect Middlesbrough to come through it, perhaps by a 1-0 scoreline.
It's not often we can say "staying with the theme of Adama" so we are going to take full advantage here. Adama Diomande has his strengths and weaknesses, like every player does, but he hasn't found the back of the net in a Premier League game since the opening day of the season. Since then, his only goals have come against Exeter City in the EFL Cup and San Marino in a World Cup qualifier with Norway so there's no doubt he needs to show that he can score in a high-profile game. That said, this is first start in the league since October 1.
Middlesbrough have made just the one change this evening but it'a surprise one. Traore has been electric this season. He hasn't always delivered in the final third but his pace will scare any defence so many will wonder why he has been dropped. Fischer came to English football with a big reputation but he has only made two starts in the Premier League since a £3.8m move from Ajax. He will be aware that he must deliver in a game such as this one, for the benefit of both himself and his club.
FA CUP DRAW! We told you that we were going to bring you an update of the FA Cup draw, so click here to read it in full! It hasn't necessarily thrown up anything that will excite the neutrals but there are a few interesting ties.
Just one point separates these two teams in the Premier League table but the similarities do not end there. Middlesbrough's record at the Riverside Stadium is identical to that of Hull's on the road with each team having one win, one draw and four defeats to their name. Neither record is particularly impressive but Middlesbrough will be desperate to improve on their return of four points from a possible 18 in the North-East.
The most recent match between these two teams came in March when both clubs were looking for automatic promotion from the Championship. It appeared that the game would end in a goalless draw between Boro claimed victory in the first minute of added-on time. Click here to have a read back at our the match unfolded.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's contest represents the 60th time in which these two sides have faced each other in a competitive match, with Middlesbrough having recorded 25 wins in comparison to 17 victories for Hull. However, it's been seven years since they last played each other in the top flight, with both teams having spent the majority of that period competing at the second tier.
As for Hull, Mike Phelan has to contend with the suspension of Dieumerci Mbokani so Ryan Mason is given the chance to come back into the team in midfield. Sam Clucas also comes back into the side after serving a ban while Andrew Robertson keeps his place after coming through unscathed on his first game back from injury against Newcastle United.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has decided to make just the one change to the team which started the game away at Leicester City last weekend. Adama Traore has dropped out of the side and he has been replaced by Viktor Fischer, who is given a rare chance to impress from the opening whistle. Alvaro Negredo is named in attack after his two goals against the Foxes.
HULL CITY XI: Marshall, Elmohamady, Davies, Dawson, Robertson, Snodgrass, Livermore, Clucas, Mason, Henriksen, Diomande
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio, Clayton, De Roon, Forshaw, Fischer, Ramirez, Negredo
We'll have news of the FA Cup draw coming up over the next 20 minutes but first, let's crack on with the team news.
While I say geographical location is an important feature of this match, there is still 110 miles between Middlesbrough and Hull but Hull rarely have to make a trip any shorter than that distance in the Premier League. We most certainly can't describe this as a derby but at least their fans require less than a couple of hours to travel to the Riverside Stadium.
It was a weekend of high drama in the Premier League with goals, brawls and sendings off aplenty but we have still have one more game to go before Week 14 can be completed. A contest between Middlesbrough and Hull won't necessarily set the pulses racing but it is a huge fixture for the clubs involved, not just because of their geographical location but because of the difference it could make to their efforts at the bottom of the table.
