The Tigers were thrashed in front of their own supporters to lose a second consecutive MKM Stadium game
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
22:14, 05 Dec 2025
David Strelec of Middlesbrough challenges Ivor Pandur goalkeeper of Hull City(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Hull City suffered their heaviest defeat of the Championship season so far losing 4-1 at home to Middlesbrough.
The Championship’s second-leakiest defence showed why they concede so many just nine minutes in when David Strelec was afforded too much space to slam into the net, after a quick counter caught the hosts sleeping.
One became two, two became three and three became four, all before the half-time interval, with City’s shambolic defending exposed by a clinical Boro side who could have scarcely enjoyed an easier night.
Joe Gelhardt made it 10 for the season when he slotted in a second half spot-kick to at least give home fans something to cheer on a filthy East Yorkshire night.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the MKM Stadium under the lights on Friday evening….
Ivor Pandur: Probably touched it more than any other City player, and that came from just picking the ball out of the net in the first period. 5/10
Ryan Giles: Started brightly before it all began to unravel. Not a night he’ll remember fondly against his former club. 5/10
Semi Ajayi: Stood and watched as Strelec slammed in the opener. Looked uneasy throughout the first half. 5/10
John Egan: Awful first half, summed up by his pass to Conway for the second. Didn’t get any better. 5/10
Lewie Coyle: Arguably one of the most disappointing nights he’s had in a Tigers shirt for a long time. 5/10
Regan Slater: Overrun in the middle of the pitch, couldn’t get anywhere near it. Battled harder in the second but the game had gone, and he was withdrawn. 5/10
Matt Crooks: Against his former club, had a night to forget. Tried an overhead kick and got penalised for it. Dropped deeper in the second after the changes. 5/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic: Done for pace in the build-up to Boro’s opener and never recovered. Had no control in midfield as City crumbled. Dragged off at the break. 4/10
Joe Gelhardt: After a couple of bright moments early on and that was as good as it got. Lost the ball for the third as everything unravelled. Kept at it and won the penalty, which he scored. Eight in his last 10 for him. 6/10
Kyle Joseph: A couple of loose touches summed up the team’s first half and was dragged off at the break. In fairness to Kyle, it could have been any one of 11. 4/10
Enis Destan: Really nice movement and pass early on. Sadly, that was as good as it got. The game largely passed him by, and he couldn’t make it stick. 4/10
Subs:
Charlie Hughes (for Amir 46): Drafted on at half-time and could have bagged City’s second but glanced a header wide of the post. 6/10
Mohamed Belloumi (for Joseph 46): Made a really positive difference in the second half. Surely has to start on Wednesday night, given how this one went. 6/10
Liam Millar (for Destan 65): Great to see him back on the pitch, albeit in a game that had long since passed City by. 5/10
Darko Gyabi (for Slater 75): Will have come on with a point to prove after being taken off at the break a week ago. 5/10
David Akintola (for Gelhardt 75): Helped his side clear danger on the edge of their own box in the closing stages. 5/10
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