Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick hopes his side’s last-gasp 1-0 win at Hull can add fresh impetus to their Championship promotion push.
A fourth successive draw beckoned for Boro, which would have dropped them out of the top six, after Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur made several important saves and Hayden Hackney hit the inside of the post.
But in the third minute of four added on, Delano Burgzorg burst down the left and a low cross was turned in by fellow substitute Alex Gilbert as Middlesbrough ended New Year’s Day fifth in the table.
“That one felt like a really big win for us,” Carrick said. “We’ve got to feed off it, we’ve got to use it as a springboard.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going to be rosy after this but it gives us a great feeling. It gives the lads a little bit more confidence and a little bit more belief.
“We’ve got to enjoy it. That’s why you’re involved in the game, for moments like this. You’ve certainly got to move on quickly but it doesn’t stop you from enjoying those last-minute winners.”
Club captain Jonny Howson was once again unavailable because of a calf injury but the 36-year-old midfielder was given the green light by Carrick to be in Middlesbrough’s away end at the MKM Stadium.
“It was nice to see him,” Carrick added. “We had a conversation the other day and I was all for it.
“I’ve done it myself with my children and I said ‘you’ve got to do it, you’ll enjoy it’. I hope he didn’t leave early!”
Hull competed on equal terms with their opponents for the first half hour but were second best thereafter, with the Tigers failing to muster a single shot on target from seven attempts.
They returned to the bottom three after Portsmouth’s win over Swansea earlier in the day and Hull head coach Ruben Selles admitted the nature of their defeat was a tough pill to swallow.
“The point would have been good for us,” he said. “We showed character, togetherness and we defended situations.
“Our goalkeeper was there when we needed him and (for Middlesbrough to score) late in the game was difficult to take.
“But we played to their tempo, we were trying to build up the game in possession, we were not able to break their pressure in the way we wanted and then against the ball, we didn’t find our triggers.”
