Hull City 3 Middlesbrough 0

HIS team had been well beaten, and he now has almost two weeks to ponder Middlesbrough’s latest away day woe. No wonder Aitor Karanka cut a frustrated figure at the KC Stadium.

“The performance was pretty bad, and leaves us with plenty to think about over the next two weeks,” admitted the manager following the 3-0 loss at Hull City, Boro’s heaviest of the season.

That must be one of the most frustrating aspects of losing on the eve of an international break, two weeks to mull over a chastening defeat at the league leaders.

Not until a week on Friday, at home to QPR, will they have an opportunity to put right went wrong on Saturday in what was their biggest test of the season so far.

On the back of three league wins in a row, here was an opportunity to leapfrog the table-topping Tigers. And with the victory at Manchester United still fresh in the memory, optimism was running high.

Yet Boro were a long second best and Karanka knew it.

He said: “The result was for me completely fair and the performance, especially our performance, was really bad.

“The first half was what I was expecting, there were chances for them, chances for us, but we didn't score and they did, and they kept playing with the same intensity and we didn't play with the same intensity.

“You could see the difference, especially with two teams on the pitch with a lot of quality. Their intensity was the difference.”

David Nugent had an early chance for Boro, poking the ball wide after being played in by a Diego Fabbrini pass. Minutes later the pair combined again, and although this time Nugent was offside with Hull also seeing glimpses of goal, it made for a competitive start between two of the division’s promotion chasers.

But Boro then backtracked, the lack of ambition Karanka would later complain of became evident, and Hull slowly took control.

Dimi Konstantopoulos tipped over a Sam Clucas free-kick after David Meyler had been tripped, and the Greek keeper was soon called on again, saving low to his right after Ahmed Elmohamady burst through unmarked.

Hull grew stronger as the half drew to a close, finally taking the lead in the 44th minute through Mo Diame.

He converted at close-range after an Elohamady delivery, though Hull being given possession by Fabbrini falling down easily while looking to earn a free-kick, as is his wont, will have frustrated Karanka.

Middlesbrough were again lacklustre after the restart, though it took a while for Steve Bruce’s side to take advantage.

Diame blasted over from 20 yards, and then volleyed off target from 12 yards, George Friend was unlucky not to equalise.

Hull keeper Allan McGregor saved at close-range to stop the left-back’s volley after he’d broken into the penalty area to meet a Stewart Downing delivery.

The cross was one of Downing’s few contributions. He was only intermittently involved, ditto the rest of the midfield and attack, while runo Zuculini was a passenger in midfield.

He had been preferred to the benched Grant Leadbitter, Karanka explaining: “It was tactical. It was a surprise I understand that, but we have Adam Clayton and Grant with four yellow cards and today I expected a difficult and tough game and we don't have another replacement.

“I decided to play with Clayton and Bruno (Zuculini) because he played against Charlton and did really, really well and for that reason I didn't want to take a risk.”

Karanka sent on Leadbitter midway through the second half, but moments later Clucas made it 2-0.

He diverted David Meyler’s miss-hit long-range shot, a goal perhaps fortuitous in nature but not unmerited and from that point Boro were done for.

Hull were too strong in all areas, their defence led by captain Michael Dawson made it 512 minutes without conceding, while Clucas and Elohamady were too quick and too clever for a sluggish Boro.

Middlesbrough’s miserable day was summed up when the usually reliable Friend erred to set-up the third goal.

His pass to Fernando Amorebieta was intercepted and substitute Tom Huddlestone thundered home from the edge of the box.

While Middlesbrough had been poor, Bruce was positive in his post-match assessment about the Teessiders.

“Middlesbrough are a very good side, and if we finish above them this season, then we'll give ourselves a pretty decent chance of success,” said the ex-Sunderland boss.

“Considering the strength of the opposition, that was probably our best performance of the season. Middlesbrough had an early chance but barring that I thought we dominated.”