Middlesbrough 3-1 Hull City: Fifth straight loss for struggling Tigers

Delano Burgzorg should have scored inside the opening 10 minutes and Conway shot wide before Azaz broke the deadlock.

The elegant midfielder received the ball on his right foot, switched it to his left and curled a beauty past Ivor Pandur to get his sixth in six games to add to seven assists this season.

Boro remained on the front foot and Conway’s looping header made it two, benefiting from a great cross from fellow Scotland international Doak.

He carried a threat every time he got the ball and early in the second half, Tigers captain Lewie Coyle almost diverted a Doak cross past Pandur, before Alfie Jones deflected a Doak shot just past his own post.

Croatian goalkeeper Pandur continued to be kept busy, so there was a sense of shock when Burstow headed in from close range for his first Hull goal after coming on as a substitute.

For a few minutes, Boro were edgy as they tried to avoid giving up two more unexpected points as they have done against Portsmouth, Preston, Bristol City and Coventry already here this season.

But Doak was denied by a fine Pandur save, before the 19-year’s old pass set up Conway to score with the aid of a deflection.

That was his eighth Boro goal and he would have had nine but for more excellent Pandur reflexes as Michael Carrick’s side showed why they are so easy on the eye, carrying so much attacking threat with Doak at the heart of it.