Clayton reflects on Boro’s huge Tigers win

Middlesbrough’s Adam Clayton believes Monday night’s victory against Hull is likely to prove more important than impressive draws away at Arsenal and Manchester City.

Gaston Ramirez’s header lifted the Teesside club to 13th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone after their third win of the season.

It’s a result Clayton believes is more valuable than any other this season, highlighting the necessity of taking spoils from their bottom-half rivals to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

But the 27-year-old confessed he pays little heed to the league table, instead keen to focus on one match at a time.

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“I think it was more important [to beat Hull] than Man City and Arsenal away,” he said.

“To get points at home against teams who will probably be fighting for relegation makes those away points even bigger. It was a great three points and I think we can really kick on now.

“Once we scored I think we made it quite hard for ourselves and didn’t carry on the way we were playing.

“But we got over the line – that’s what we do. We’re used to grinding results out and that was a big three points.

“I don’t focus on the league table, just getting the three points, because it’s massive in this league and if you can get them then it can change everything.”