HULL City strengthened their Championship automatic promotion bid as they hung on for a tense 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the KC Stadium this afternoon.
In a contest that saw the Tigers consistently fall some distance short of their high standards, Robbie Brady's free-kick in the 62nd minute settled an encounter suffocated by anxiety.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele was badly at fault for the City goal, but it was a telling moment that restored a four-point advantage in second spot ahead of Watford's evening game against league-leaders Cardiff.
The fate of Steve Bruce's side remains theirs to shape and a precious win will help steady frayed nerves for the final five games of the campaign.
The onus was on City to bounce back from Tuesday's damaging 1-0 loss to Watford and Bruce responded by making two changes in a reshuffled side. Recalls for midfielders Corry Evans and Stephen Quinn saw Alex Bruce drop into defence and George Boyd pushed up into the attack.
Bruce had called for a positive start from his side but he will have been disappointed when there were few signs of it in the opening passages.
Middlesbrough, without an away win since December, started the brighter side and were first to threaten through Sammy Ameobi's long-range drive well saved by David Stockdale.
The visitors were relatively comfortable containing the Tigers, but flashes of life became evident as the opening half wore on.
A lovely turn and burst from Robert Koren ended with a fierce drive from 20 yards out beaten clear by Jason Steele, while Boyd slammed a shot into the side-netting when taking advantage of a quick free-kick unseen by Middlesbrough.
Two half-chances also fell to unlikely figures in black and amber. First was James Chester, controlling on his thigh and firing against the block of Justin Hoyte, before Abdoulaye Faye scuffed wide when a corner was inexplicably allowed to bounce all the way through.
Middlesbrough had a glimpse of goal themselves in between the two chances. Ameobi's cross from the left found Ismael Miller in space, but the centre had just too much on it for the striker to profit.
A frustrating half eventually ended on a sour note for the Tigers. After already losing Paul McShane and Jack Hobbs to injury, Alex Bruce became the third defender lost when helped off the field and replaced by Liam Rosenior.
City's fortunes initially did little to improve after the break but, just as a goal appeared most unlikely, the home side were given a helping hand to take the lead.
After referee Simon Hooper ignored a clear attacking advantage to give the Tigers a free-kick, Brady's effort over the wall was unconvincing at best. It was then that Steele made a mess of a routine save and pushed the ball into the roof of the net.
The relief was clear all around the KC and City found a new lease of life in search of a second.
Simpson, on for Gedo, was guilty of wasting a glorious chance when Quinn's ball into the box picked him out in acres of space. The shot was scuffed on to the helpless Hoyte and when the ball bounced goal-bound, it needed Steele to push clear.
City's failure to take their chances set the stage for a nervous final 15 minutes. James Chester headed clear with Miller lurking, before Stockdale produced a fine reaction save to deny Scott McDonald's near post flick. From the resulting corner it needed Evans to head Andre Bikey's attempt off the line.
A fraught conclusion, with City desperately winding down the clock, eventually brought the full-time whistle and three more precious points to take the Tigers another step closer to the Premier League.
In a contest that saw the Tigers consistently fall some distance short of their high standards, Robbie Brady's free-kick in the 62nd minute settled an encounter suffocated by anxiety.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele was badly at fault for the City goal, but it was a telling moment that restored a four-point advantage in second spot ahead of Watford's evening game against league-leaders Cardiff.
The fate of Steve Bruce's side remains theirs to shape and a precious win will help steady frayed nerves for the final five games of the campaign.
The onus was on City to bounce back from Tuesday's damaging 1-0 loss to Watford and Bruce responded by making two changes in a reshuffled side. Recalls for midfielders Corry Evans and Stephen Quinn saw Alex Bruce drop into defence and George Boyd pushed up into the attack.
Bruce had called for a positive start from his side but he will have been disappointed when there were few signs of it in the opening passages.
Middlesbrough, without an away win since December, started the brighter side and were first to threaten through Sammy Ameobi's long-range drive well saved by David Stockdale.
The visitors were relatively comfortable containing the Tigers, but flashes of life became evident as the opening half wore on.
A lovely turn and burst from Robert Koren ended with a fierce drive from 20 yards out beaten clear by Jason Steele, while Boyd slammed a shot into the side-netting when taking advantage of a quick free-kick unseen by Middlesbrough.
Two half-chances also fell to unlikely figures in black and amber. First was James Chester, controlling on his thigh and firing against the block of Justin Hoyte, before Abdoulaye Faye scuffed wide when a corner was inexplicably allowed to bounce all the way through.
Middlesbrough had a glimpse of goal themselves in between the two chances. Ameobi's cross from the left found Ismael Miller in space, but the centre had just too much on it for the striker to profit.
A frustrating half eventually ended on a sour note for the Tigers. After already losing Paul McShane and Jack Hobbs to injury, Alex Bruce became the third defender lost when helped off the field and replaced by Liam Rosenior.
City's fortunes initially did little to improve after the break but, just as a goal appeared most unlikely, the home side were given a helping hand to take the lead.
After referee Simon Hooper ignored a clear attacking advantage to give the Tigers a free-kick, Brady's effort over the wall was unconvincing at best. It was then that Steele made a mess of a routine save and pushed the ball into the roof of the net.
The relief was clear all around the KC and City found a new lease of life in search of a second.
Simpson, on for Gedo, was guilty of wasting a glorious chance when Quinn's ball into the box picked him out in acres of space. The shot was scuffed on to the helpless Hoyte and when the ball bounced goal-bound, it needed Steele to push clear.
City's failure to take their chances set the stage for a nervous final 15 minutes. James Chester headed clear with Miller lurking, before Stockdale produced a fine reaction save to deny Scott McDonald's near post flick. From the resulting corner it needed Evans to head Andre Bikey's attempt off the line.
A fraught conclusion, with City desperately winding down the clock, eventually brought the full-time whistle and three more precious points to take the Tigers another step closer to the Premier League.