Championship leaders Hull City have edged ahead against high-flying Middlesbrough thanks to Mohamed Diame's goal on the stroke of half time.
The first chance of the game fell the way of Hull's Abel Hernandez, who turned away from danger and fired an effort over the bar early on.
Middlesbrough then felt aggrieved when Jake Livermore was penalised for pulling back Diego Fabbrini as the Italian midfielder looked to break, with the Hull man's challenge not drawing a booking, despite the away side's protests.
An agitated Fabbrini almost punished the hosts just a minute later when he put David Nugent in on goal, but the former England striker could only drag his shot wide of Allan McGregor's post.
Nugent then hammered an effort straight at McGregor, only for play to be pulled back for offside, further incensing the travelling fans.
At the other end, Ahmed El Mohamady almost broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark, but saw his effort saved by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos in the Middlesbrough goal.
The Egyptian midfielder then almost flicked a Sam Clucas corner into the top corner, but had better luck when his cross found Diame who fired home just a minute before the break.
Joe Sharratt
