Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton has talked up the importance of his side's 1-0 victory over relegation rivals Hull City at the Riverside Stadium on Monday.

A second-half header from Gaston Ramirez was enough to hand them their first win in four games, lifting them up to 13th in the Premier League table and four points clear of the relegation zone.

Clayton ranks the victory as more important than recent away draws with Arsenal and Manchester City, and hopes to carry the team's improving form into Sunday's match against Southampton.

"It's more important than Manchester City or Arsenal away. It's even bigger to get the points at home against teams who will probably be fighting relegation, and I think we can really kick on now," he told the club's official website.

"Three points in this league is massive and if you can get them it can change everything. Now we are in a good position to go to Southampton and put on a good performance and see what we can get."

Boro have now lost just one of their last six Premier League games, with that coming against league leaders Chelsea.