By our main man in sports writing
HULL, HUMBERSIDE – Hull City’s famed MKM Stadium was turned into a house of horrors last night as a blistering Middlesbrough ripped the home side apart, netting four goals in a devastating first-half blitz to seal a massive 4-1 Championship victory.
The ground, which Hull City share with rugby league giants Hull FC and which has previously been known as the KCOM and KC Stadium, usually stands as a fortress of pride in East Yorkshire. But last night, with the heavens opening on the city, the only thing pouring down was Middlesbrough goals, leaving the loyal Tiger faithful rushing for the turnstiles well before the half-time whistle.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic’s men looked utterly shell-shocked at their own gaff.
The visitors from Teesside—led by the brilliant new Swedish boss Kim Hellberg—seemed to treat the MKM Stadium’s pristine Desso GrassMaster pitch like their own training ground.
Boro came flying out of the traps, with David Strelec opening the scoring in just the ninth minute. Then, the floodgates truly opened in a nine-minute spell of utter chaos for the hosts.
Alex Gilbert doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark, then turned provider for Morgan Whittaker (who has now scored in four consecutive games) moments later. Riley McGree capped off the incredible first-half rout in the 44th minute, making it 0-4 on the Tigers’ own turf.
Hull City managed a consolation goal from the penalty spot in the second half through Joe Gelhardt, but the damage was already done in front of the horrified 21,105 crowd at the MKM Stadium.
A disgusted Jakirovic said after the game that his side’s performance was “as desperate as the horrific East Yorkshire weather.”
Hellberg, meanwhile, became the first Boro boss since 1994 to win his first two games, stating the performance at the MKM was “perfect.”
For Hull, this heavy defeat at their home venue, which is also a popular spot for concerts and functions, will serve as a painful reminder of their defensive fragility as they look to turn their season around.
