Ishmael Miller struck his first Middlesbrough goal to help his team climb to third in the Championship.

The striker, on loan from Nottingham Forest, netted after Faris Haroun had opened the scoring and secured a third straight win for Tony Mowbray's side.

Miller's goal came on his return to the starting line-up, having made his comeback from a groin injury as a substitute at Brighton last Saturday.

Aaron Mclean missed Hull's best chance as they failed to mount a comeback.

A lacklustre Hull showed little of the verve that propelled them to a 2-1 victory over struggling Ipswich last Saturday.

Keeper Ben Amos made an early save from teenage winger Adam Reach, but then got into trouble at a couple of corners and had to recover quickly to deny George Friend and Marvin Emnes.

Hull were left frustrated as Nick Proschwitz raced on to Mclean's through ball and appeared to be brought down by stand-in Boro skipper Grant Leadbitter, only for the referee to give nothing.

Amos, who looked nervous in goal, was left standing five minutes after the restart as Friend crashed a header on to the crossbar before Miller nodded the rebound into the crowd.

But Boro then had an escape as Proschwitz fluffed a free header at the other end.

Haroun gave the home side the lead in the 59th minute, finishing a swift counter-attack by converting Friend's perfectly-judged pass.

Seven minutes later, Friend burst into the box and when Amos failed to hold his shot, substitute Scott McDonald's snapshot bounced free before Miller steered the ball into the net.

Mclean had a chance to pull one back with just under 10 minutes to go, but he miskicked Corry Evans's cross wide with the goal gaping.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray:

"Ish [Miller] had a great chance at the weekend, running through one-on-one with the keeper but just glancing it past the post.

"But all strikers need to score goals to give them confidence when they next go out on the pitch.

"That'll give Ishmael a lot of confidence and I thought his performance and physicality gave them problems tonight."

Hull manager Steve Bruce:

"It was arguably the worst we've played since I came to the club and it was a frustrating night because we got nowhere near it, especially after what we did on Saturday. I have to look at myself: Did I not do enough?

"What I've learned is that two games in three days is a struggle for us. I just thought the overall energy of the team was nowhere near where it should be.

"Nothing's worked tonight. We never looked a threat all night apart from maybe in the last 10 minutes, when it was too late."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 03 Amougou
  • 04 Friend
  • 15 Hines
  • 21 Parnaby
  • 25 Reach (McDonald - 65' )
  • 07 Leadbitter
  • 16 McEachran (Bailey - 76' )
  • 38 Haroun
  • 09 Emnes
  • 30 Miller (Ledesma - 79' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 32 Leutwiler
  • 10 Bailey
  • 18 Halliday
  • 24 Park
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 11 Ledesma
  • 27 McDonald

Hull City

  • 22 Amos
  • 02 Rosenior (Simpson - 76' )
  • 03 Dawson
  • 05 Chester
  • 15 McShane
  • 04 McKenna (Evans - 76' )
  • 16 Olofinjana
  • 27 Elmohamady
  • 29 Quinn
  • 09 Mclean
  • 33 Proschwitz (Aluko - 60' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Oxley
  • 17 Cooper
  • 28 Bruce
  • 32 Townsend
  • 08 Evans
  • 24 Aluko
  • 11 Simpson
Ref: Tierney
Att: 14,129

Match Stats

Shots

18 8

On target

16 1

Corners

8 4

Fouls

10 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:03 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +1:32 Booking

Booking The referee shows Emmanuel Ledesma a yellow card.

90:00 +1:21

Foul by Scott McDonald on Corry Evans, free kick awarded. Ahmed Elmohamady takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Friend by Aaron Mclean. Indirect free kick taken by Jason Steele.

88:56

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Andy Dawson gets a block in. Grant Leadbitter decides to take a short corner.

88:19

Foul by Nicky Bailey on Sone Aluko, free kick awarded. Stephen Quinn takes the direct free kick.

87:27

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

86:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Seyi Olofinjana by Andre Bikey. Paul McShane takes the free kick.

85:46

The ball is crossed by Ahmed Elmohamady, Jason Steele makes a save. Effort from the edge of the box by Andy Dawson goes wide of the right-hand upright.

85:26

The referee blows for offside against Scott McDonald. James Chester restarts play with the free kick.

83:53

Grant Leadbitter challenges Jay Simpson unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is crossed by Sone Aluko, Headed effort from inside the area by Paul McShane misses to the right of the goal.

82:23

Scott McDonald produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

81:21

Emmanuel Ledesma challenges Seyi Olofinjana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Seyi Olofinjana.

78:35 Substitution

Substitution Ishmael Miller leaves the field to be replaced by Emmanuel Ledesma.

78:35

Effort from inside the six-yard area by Corry Evans bounces off the post.

77:21

Andy Dawson concedes a free kick for a foul on Marvin Emnes. Marvin Emnes takes the free kick. The ball is swung over by Grant Leadbitter.

74:46

Free kick taken by Jason Steele.

74:46 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Bailey joins the action as a substitute, replacing Josh McEachran.

74:46 Substitution

Substitution Corry Evans on for Paul McKenna.

74:46 Substitution

Substitution Jay Simpson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Liam Rosenior.

74:46

The offside flag is raised against Paul McKenna.

73:01

The ball is sent over by Stephen Quinn, clearance made by Grant Leadbitter.

72:18

Ahmed Elmohamady crosses the ball, Andre Bikey makes a clearance.

71:32

Ahmed Elmohamady crosses the ball, George Friend gets a block in. Sone Aluko takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Stuart Parnaby makes a clearance.

70:40

Andy Dawson sends in a cross.

69:17

Faris Haroun takes a shot. Blocked by James Chester.

68:41

Faris Haroun crosses the ball, Paul McKenna makes a clearance.

68:15

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line.

65:38

Assist by Scott McDonald.

65:38 Goal scored

Goal - Ishmael Miller - Middlesbro 2 - 0 Hull Ishmael Miller finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 2-0 Hull.

65:31

George Friend takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos. Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

64:27 Substitution

Substitution (Middlesbrough) makes a substitution, with Scott McDonald coming on for Adam Reach.

64:27

Effort from outside the area by Sone Aluko goes wide right of the goal.

58:19

George Friend provided the assist for the goal.

58:19 Goal scored

Goal - Faris Haroun - Middlesbro 1 - 0 Hull Faris Haroun finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull.

60:01

The ball is sent over by Liam Rosenior. Aaron Mclean is caught offside. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.

59:15 Substitution

Substitution Sone Aluko on for Nick Proschwitz.

58:19

Assist on the goal came from George Friend.

58:19 Goal scored

Goal - Ishmael Miller - Middlesbro 1 - 0 Hull Ishmael Miller gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull.

57:30

Andy Dawson crosses the ball, clearance made by Stuart Parnaby. Outswinging corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the left by-line, Adam Reach makes a clearance.

56:40

The ball is delivered by Adam Reach, save made by Ben Amos.

55:05

Ahmed Elmohamady delivers the ball.

54:35

Marvin Emnes is ruled offside. James Chester takes the free kick.

53:34

Seyi Olofinjana challenges Marvin Emnes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Adam Reach, Ben Amos makes a save.

50:57

Adam Reach challenges Andy Dawson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Amos.

50:40

Ishmael Miller produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

49:49

Corner from the right by-line taken by Josh McEachran, Andre Bikey takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

49:36

Ishmael Miller delivers the ball, blocked by Seyi Olofinjana.

48:38

Stuart Parnaby fouled by Stephen Quinn, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.

47:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andre Bikey on Paul McShane. Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Quinn, clearance by Ishmael Miller.

46:24

Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Stuart Parnaby.

45:44

Centre by Ahmed Elmohamady, save made by Jason Steele.

45:16

Paul McShane fouled by Ishmael Miller, the ref awards a free kick. James Chester restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:11 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

44:24

Ahmed Elmohamady produces a cross, George Friend manages to make a clearance.

43:01

Aaron Mclean is caught offside. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.

42:39

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marvin Emnes. Free kick taken by James Chester.

41:39

Adam Reach delivers the ball.

41:18

The assistant referee flags for offside against Aaron Mclean. Indirect free kick taken by Andre Bikey.

40:08

Stephen Quinn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stuart Parnaby. Josh McEachran restarts play with the free kick.

38:55

The referee gives a free kick against Stuart Parnaby for handball. Ahmed Elmohamady has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

37:42

Foul by Faris Haroun on Stephen Quinn, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Nick Proschwitz from the free kick.

33:23

The ball is swung over by Andy Dawson.

32:17

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Ben Amos makes a save. Ishmael Miller takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

29:52

Paul McKenna gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grant Leadbitter. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Grant Leadbitter.

29:24

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

28:40

Corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter, Liam Rosenior manages to make a clearance.

28:19

The referee blows for offside against Aaron Mclean. Indirect free kick taken by Jason Steele.

27:51

Grant Leadbitter challenges Ahmed Elmohamady unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul McKenna.

25:36

The ball is delivered by Andy Dawson.

24:41

The ball is swung over by Ahmed Elmohamady.

23:59

The ball is swung over by Stuart Parnaby, clearance made by Seyi Olofinjana.

22:53

Stephen Quinn has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

22:36

Andy Dawson crosses the ball, Seb Hines manages to make a clearance.

21:51

Corner taken left-footed by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line, George Friend makes a clearance.

20:43

The referee blows for offside. Paul McShane takes the free kick.

20:20

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Comfortable save by Ben Amos.

18:10

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line, Ben Amos makes a save.

16:25

The ball is sent over by Ahmed Elmohamady, clearance made by Andre Bikey.

13:02

The ball is sent over by George Friend, Liam Rosenior makes a clearance.

12:20

The ball is swung over by Josh McEachran, Paul McShane manages to make a clearance.

11:08

Paul McShane challenges Marvin Emnes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Adam Reach from right wing. Inswinging corner taken by Grant Leadbitter, Ben Amos makes a save.

8:37

Adam Reach takes a shot. Ben Amos makes a save. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Grant Leadbitter, George Friend takes a shot. Ben Amos makes a save.

7:29

Unfair challenge on Adam Reach by Nick Proschwitz results in a free kick. Grant Leadbitter crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Liam Rosenior makes a clearance.

6:51

The ball is delivered by Marvin Emnes, Andy Dawson makes a clearance.

6:36

The ball is sent over by Adam Reach, Stephen Quinn makes a clearance.

5:19

Adam Reach produces a cross, Andy Dawson gets a block in. Corner taken by Adam Reach from the right by-line played to the near post, Andy Dawson manages to make a clearance.

2:05

Aaron Mclean produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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