As the dust settles on the final Championship fixture of 2025, Hull City fans are savoring a sweet sense of revenge and renewed hope in the race for promotion. On December 29, 2025, under the lights at the Riverside Stadium, Hull City clinched a massive 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough, a result that not only avenged their heavy defeat earlier in the month but also propelled the Tigers into the thick of the automatic promotion chase.
This wasn’t just any win for Hull City. It was a statement. Earlier in December, Sergej Jakirovic’s men suffered their worst defeat of the season, a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Boro at the MKM Stadium. That night, Hull trailed by four at halftime, and although Joe Gelhardt managed to salvage a sliver of pride, the pain lingered. Fast-forward a few weeks, and the Tigers arrived on Teesside with a clear mission: set the record straight. And set it they did, thanks to an early goal from Darko Gyabi that sent the 2,118 traveling Hull supporters into raptures among the 31,421-strong crowd.
Gyabi’s strike, Hull’s only shot on target all evening, proved decisive. It wasn’t just the goal that stood out, but the way Hull weathered a storm of Boro pressure. The home side unleashed 23 shots, racking up an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.17, but simply couldn’t find a way past Hull’s resolute defense. As the minutes ticked by, the tension mounted, with Middlesbrough pushing for an equalizer and Hull digging in, determined to hold on for a victory that would have major implications at the top of the table.
“On a night to remember for the Tigers at Boro, as they close to within two points of the top six with victory here on Teesside,” reported Hull Live. The stats painted a picture of dominance by the home side—70% possession, 44 touches in the box, and 10 corners to Hull’s two—but football is a game of moments, and Gyabi’s early intervention was the only one that truly mattered on the scoreboard.
For Middlesbrough, this result marked a third consecutive Championship game without a win, a run that has suddenly cast doubt on their automatic promotion ambitions. The opportunity was there for Boro to close the gap on second-placed Coventry City, especially after Coventry’s 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town earlier in the day. Instead, Hull’s victory slashed the deficit between the two sides to just two points, with Hull now sitting fourth in the table, four points clear of seventh and right in the thick of the promotion hunt.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Hull City since that bruising loss to Middlesbrough. The Tigers have now taken four wins from their last five fixtures, including three consecutive victories prior to a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day. This run of form has not only restored confidence but also given Hull a real shot at automatic promotion as they head into 2026. As Hull Live noted, “Going into 2026 City are fourth in the Championship. Four points clear of seventh, and just TWO behind the automatic places...”
This victory also put an end to a three-game losing streak against Middlesbrough in league meetings. In fact, Hull City have developed a knack for finishing the year on a high note—they’ve now won their final match of the calendar year for four consecutive seasons, a feat last achieved between 1981 and 1984. That’s the kind of stat that gets fans dreaming of a return to the Premier League.
The match itself was a tense affair, with both sides showing flashes of attacking intent. Yet, for all of Middlesbrough’s possession and chances, it was Hull who struck first and, ultimately, last. The Tigers’ defense, marshaled with discipline and grit, stood firm against wave after wave of Boro attacks. Every blocked shot and cleared cross was greeted with roars from the away end, the traveling fans sensing that this could be a pivotal night in their team’s season.
Elsewhere in the Championship, the promotion picture shifted yet again. Ipswich Town’s win at Coventry City kept them firmly in the race, while Millwall’s 2-1 triumph over Bristol City and Watford’s dramatic 1-0 victory at Norwich City—sealed by a 90th-minute strike from Vivaldo Semedo—ensured the battle for the top spots remains as fierce as ever. Wrexham, too, kept up the pressure with a 2-1 win over Preston North End, while Sheffield United bounced back from a Boxing Day defeat to beat Stoke City 2-1.
For Hull City, though, the focus was firmly on their own achievement. The numbers from the Riverside told the story: 23 shots faced, only one on target for themselves, but the only one that counted. “Here’s those all-important Tigers player ratings as Darko Gyabi’s goal seals a huge away win,” Hull Live wrote, highlighting the significance of the result and the individual performances that made it possible.
The mood in the Hull City camp couldn’t be more different from that in the Middlesbrough dressing room. For Boro, the frustration was palpable. This was a chance to capitalize on Coventry’s slip, but instead, they now face mounting pressure from the chasing pack. For Hull, it’s all about momentum and belief. The Tigers have shown they can grind out results when it matters most, and with the promotion race tighter than ever, every point gained—or lost—could prove decisive come May.
As the year draws to a close, Hull City supporters will savor this win, not just for the three points, but for what it represents: resilience, redemption, and a real shot at automatic promotion. With the Championship table so finely poised, the stage is set for a thrilling second half of the season. The Tigers have thrown down the gauntlet. Now, it’s up to the rest of the contenders to respond.
With their final match of 2025 ending in triumph, Hull City head into the new year brimming with confidence and ready to chase down the top two. The promotion race is well and truly on, and if this performance is anything to go by, the Tigers won’t be backing down anytime soon.
