Clayton urges Boro to build on vital Hull success

Gaston Ramirez (far left) scores Boro's winner against Hull City. Picture by Tom Collins

Boro’s 1-0 Monday night win over Hull lifted them to 13th place in the Premier League table.

But Clayton says that he is not focused on league positions, especially at this stage of the campaign.

“To be honest, I hadn’t really looked at the league table this year,” said the ex-Huddersfield star.

“Last season I did, so I’ve changed my approach.

“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.

“I think we’re in a good position now so let’s go to Southampton, put on a good performance and see what we can get.”

Boro are four points above the drop zone now, and the 27-year-old added on mfc.co.uk: “It was more important (to beat the Tigers) than Man City and Arsenal away.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Hull captain Curtis Davies has admitted his club desperately need to strengthen in the January transfer window if they are to stand any chance of surviving in the Premier League.

Boss Mike Phelan’s lack of options were plain to see in the Tigers’ 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, where Adama Diomande’s stoppage-time effort was their first on target.

And Davies believes his side are still suffering from the behind-the-scenes chaos at the start of the season which denied Phelan enough time to properly plan for the campaign ahead.

Davies said: “We made signings in the window and they have come in and done their bit but because they were all left until the last minute I don’t believe the manager had enough time to explore all his options.

“Our first shot on target was in the 92nd minute which is not good enough.

“It’s hard but we have to deal with it, we have to keep going and we have a big game against Crystal Palace at the weekend.”