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The anxiety was unbearable, but the pre-match atmosphere helped all us Boro fans with our jittery nerves, as pig-bag echoed throughout the Riverside we all knew that this was it. Make or Break!
The nerves were soon partly relieved as Boro got off to the best possible start with Ian Ashbee's loose defending letting in former City forward Marlon King one-on-one with Matt Duke only to see his shot parried by the keeper but Tuncay was the fastest man to react and slotted home to give Boro a priceless lead after only three minutes. Then the atmosphere really cranked up a level and we were starting to look like the team that started off what is turning out to be a remarkable season.
This surprisingly also made Hull realise that they were actually in a relegation dog-fight as well as their Yorkshire rivals, and the yellow and blacks quickly stung back with a powerful header from Angolan star Manucho converted from x-Boro boy Nick Barmbys delivery.
Nervy times were to follow for all Boro fans as Craig Fagan was sent through clean on goal but his poor first touch gave our Aussie keeper a chance to redeem himself after lasts weeks' poor performance, a brave save fell to the feet of Manucho who saw his effort go across the face of goal and eventually out for a throw in.
Boro then controversially regained the lead after a contentious corner was given, much to the disbelief of Ian Ashbee and his anger was added to when Boro boy Matthew Bates stabbed home from 10 yards, six local lads played today and this passion was shown throughout the game, with Andy Taylor geeing up the New Holgate end and even Marlon King making sure the atmosphere didn't fizzle out.
At half time all Boro fans knew that the next 45 minutes was so extremely important to our season, and thankfully the Boro didn't let us down, Stewart Downing curled his free-kick just wide after the break and as every minute passed by it was another ounce of relief coming from all Boro fans inside the Riverside.
David Wheater had to prevent Manucho from scoring his second of the afternoon with a goal-line clearance after Brad Jones failed to retrieve the cross, the nerves were suddenly excruciating and what we would have given for a goal to relieve the tension, which is exactly what we all thought we were going to get when Stewart Downing cut inside onto his right foot only to see his low shot terrifically saved by the strong right hand of Matt Duke.
Then George Boateng got ready for his return to the Riverside and was met by a terrific reception and even chants of "You are Boateng." After that Hull didn't really bother Middlesbrough and those chants were double in volume after Boatengs mistake led to Boro's third and final goal, and it was inevitable that it was to be scored by Marlon King who only 4 months earlier had scored the winner for Hull City against Middlesbrough. The Riverside erupted as he coolly slotted home to secure a vital 3 points for the Boro.
The final whistle was met with chants of "We are staying up" and now there are only six games left for Middlesbrough to achieve what would be a remarkable escape, everybody had us down as a certainty for relegation after last weeks games but has this result brought us back into the dog-fight? We shall soon see.
Luke