Hull City flexed their promotion muscles with a dominant win over supposed rivals Middlesbrough, who failed to turn up at the KC Stadium.

Mohamed Diame opened the scoring just before half time with a volley at the back post following an Ahmed Elmohamady cross. Halfway through the second half Sam Clucas got a foot to David Meyler's shot which bundled into the net. Tom Huddlestone rounded off the scoring with a rocket shot on the edge of the area.

Hull boss Steve Bruce made two changes to the side which won at Brentford on Tuesday night. Mohamed Diame and Harry Maguire came in for Chuba Akpom and Alex Bruce respectively. The latter being injured in the game last week.

Middlesbrough made three changes with Emilio Nsue, Grant Leadbitter and Carlos de Pena making way for Daniel Ayala, Bruno Zucilini and Diego Fabbrini. Ayala returned to the club he spent a brief period on loan at a few seasons ago.

There was a real top of the table clash feel to the game as both sides dove straight into the action. Abel Hernandez had the first real chance of the game five minutes in as he turned at the visiting defence before blazing his shot over the bar.

There was then a scrappy period as both sides exchanged nasty challenges. First Adam Clayton went in with a high boot on Diame before Jake Livermore pulled back Fabbrini when he was trying to break.

Nugent Narrowly Misses Target

Middlesbrough really should have taken the lead with their first real chance on goal as David Nugent was played in by Fabbrini but he dragged his shot wide of Allan McGregor's post.

Hull then started a period of real pressure as Clucas fired a free kick which Dimitrios Konstantopoulos had to be at full stretch to keep out. Following this Diame and Clucas linked up well with the latter supplying Elmohamady, but he didn't take the shot well and Konstantopoulos saved well.

Broken Deadlock

With both sides being in such good form and playing with such confidence goals were inevitable, and the deadlock was broken just before half time. Elmohamady ran down the wing before delivering a brilliant cross, which Diame volleyed home at the far post after losing his marker.

Arguably Hull deserved the lead at half time, but Middlesbrough were playing well. The two best defences in the Championship were showcasing exactly why they were just that.

A worrying moment for Boro as Nugent went off injured following a short period down on the pitch. He went off injured five minutes into the second half. Shortly after this blow Middlesbrough had a great chance to equalize.

George Friend fired in a cross which looked dangerous and had to be headed away by Andy Robertson before anything could materialize. Following this Hull almost made it two, as the ball fell to Diame from around 12 yards out, before the Senegalese midfielder sent his shot high and wide.

Friend was at it again as he had a fantastic effort. McGregor had to be on form in order to keep him out, as the Middlesbrough man was at the back post. However he regretted missing the effort as shortly after the home side doubled their lead.

Clucas Doubles Lead

Meyler, who was making his 100th appearance, fired a low shot at goal which didn't look like going in until Clucas stuck out a leg in order to see the ball past Konstantopoulos. Hull were brimming with confidence and Boro's challenge was ailing.

Despite going two down the visitors were still trying to get on the scoresheet as Albert Adomah made a marauding run into the area but Moses Odubajo is on hand to block the ball and stop a possible goal.

Hull were then three up and wrapped up their third win in a week as Huddlestone, who'd been on the pitch a matter of minutes after replacing Diame, scored a collectors item of a goal. A superb shot from 18 yards out rockets past Konstantopoulos to put to bed worries of a Boro fightback.