There is concern from Middlesbrough fans as their side go winless and goalless in their last 3 games following a 1-0 defeat to Hull.
Darko Gyabi’s 12th minute goal, assisted by Kyle Joseph, helped extend Hull’s unbeaten run to five games, four of them wins, and close the gap to second-placed Boro to just two points.
Middlesbrough’s early momentum and strong start under the new manager Kim Hellberg, including a 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this month) has halted, with sides below them closing the gap.
The hosts also had an effort come back off the post, with the assistant’s offside flag would have ruled out Hayden Hackney’s effort anyway, though replays suggested that he was onside as he stabbed Callum Brittain’s cross against the upright.
The hosts had hit a post at that stage, although the assistant’s offside flag would have ruled out Hayden Hackney’s effort anyway, even though replays suggested the midfielder was onside as he stabbed Callum Brittain’s cross against the upright.
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:
“Making a game look like this and coming away without any points – that’s not good enough. At the moment we’re not scoring any goals, and we have to be honest with that – we’re not good enough in those moments.
“You can look at the last three games, not scoring a goal from something like 70 shots. That’s not good enough so we have to work with that part.
“Sometimes the ball just doesn’t want to go in, but you also have to look at the quality in the finishing, how we get players in the best positions to finish, and that’s what I have to look at.
“We had 23 shots, and they had one shot on target and made it count.”
The thoughts of Kim Hellberg on tonight’s defeat 💬 pic.twitter.com/BxkIGCgDCU
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 29, 2025
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:
“We were almost perfect in the defensive phase because we knew Middlesbrough would have the ball and are really dangerous.
“They have the biggest possession [percentage] in this league, and that’s the reason we changed our system today so we had control in the middle zone to try to direct them on the sides and then when they had a cross in our box we had control there.
“We were very good in this and when we used our chance through Darko [Gyabi]. At the end of the game I didn’t feel we were struggling. They try to put you under pressure with crosses or shooting, but if we didn’t stop it with the [outfield] players then Ivor [Pandur] made two saves.
“I cannot be unhappy today because we got three points in a very difficult place.”
Fans expressed concern as Middlesbrough go winless and goalless in their last 3 games following defeat to Hull…
@RedlineUTB: Fucking shocking lads, 3 shit performances and 3 games without a goal. It was a must win game but we played like we were up 3 the entire game. Need a result against Derby. #boro
@DannyTaylorDT: Beaten by the worst team I’ve seen both home and away this season. 0 goals scored in three games since Riley McGree went off injured, very worrying #Boro
@atkinson121: Whipping 100 crosses in per game to small forwards, to a team who aren’t physically imposing in the air or at all. Or take ten touches each. It’s a strange one. Get countered concede with one shot. Rinse repeat. Really disappointing. But hey “we controlled it” 🙄
@SnakeyChalmers: In the last 4 games there have been 79 shots and 3 goals. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where the issue is.
@BerraMatt: Absolutely embarrassing performance from the attackers. I’d rather play one of the youth team strikers next game than watch this crap again.
@_mstephenson88: 71% possession again and 23 shots yet the 3rd game without a goal. What a truly terrible Christmas period, huge opportunities missed.
@lewisyates20: 2 Home games. 2 games pretty much sold out. 2 absolute disgraceful performances, not one player can walk off that pitch and say they’ve done well! Gone back to Carrick ball massively! Looking forward to the rest of the week, Derby away followed by Southampton at home 🙄 #Boro
@AnthonyDurance: I think we will be lucky to make the play offs if this continues.
@Jordwalker19: Poor. Very poor. Money needs to be spent in January.
@irishwolf99: All-in on Hackney in January, lads. Better for the kid to get six months Premier League football than none at all 😉
@DarrenP15: The game that told us all we’re not good enough to go up
@PaulAhdal: Hull followed the blue print to beat #Boro & did an absolute number on us. We don’t have the tools to break down a compact team, Conway looks to go to ground every time and Hackney head down and driving into traffic. Some pace and guile need in the January sales please Mr Gibson
@mar_boro14: Teams have found us out, and we need to find a solution. To go from 4 wins in 4, 11 goals scored, to no wins or goals in 3 is a worry. We’ve reverted back to hopeful crosses with no one in the box, and horshoeing around the box like under Edwards. Has the bubble burst?
@RichesGary:
Last three games:
Shots – 61
Goals – 0
Apart from Ipswich at home and Hellberg’s first four games in charge – we haven’t been good at all this season. #UTB
@redarmyUTB: I don’t think promotion is off the table, but this is a devastating defeat. Massive January needed. Everyone in attack terrible, especially Conway. We forget he cost £5 million. If we finished our dinner better, we’d be 9 points clear of Ipswich with 7 wins from 7. Typical #Boro
@CaineToad_: That’s automatic promotion well and truly off the cards. We look hopeless