Middlesbough's Uruguayan international Gaston Ramirez scored against one of his former clubs Hull to secure his present team a crucial 1-0 win in its Premier League clash Monday. Victory sees Middlesbough - winning at home for only the second times this term - move four points clear of the relegation spots whilst Hull remains mired in the bottom three after its fifth successive away defeat. Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka was delighted with the manner in which his players played for each other but admitted they would need many more such performances to assure themselves of a second season in the elite league. "We have 15 points, we must keep going and working together," said Karanka. "We have to fight with the teams in the relegation positions because we are a newly-promoted team. We have done nothing yet," added the 43-year-old Spaniard. His Hull counterpart Mike Phelan said his resources might be thin on the ground both financially and in terms of personnel but it was up to the players to produce something on the pitch. "We tried to drag something out of it but it was really really disappointing," said Phelan. "We gave away a ridiculous goal from a set piece, we all have jobs to do and we didn't concentrate. We have to keep our heads above water," added the 54-year-old Englishman. United-Reading in FA Cup Manchester United will begin its FA Cup defense at home to a Reading side managed by its former defender Jaap Stam, while its local rival Manchester City visits West Ham United in the third round after the draw was made Monday. Premier League leader Chelsea will host Notts County or Peterborough, English champion Leicester City will visit fellow top-flight side Everton, while Liverpool welcomes Newport County or Plymouth Argyle in ties to be played between Jan. 6-9. Arsenal, which like Manchester United has won the famous old trophy a record 12 times, travels to Preston North End, while north London rival and eight-time winner Tottenham Hotspur entertains Aston Villa, which won the FA Cup on seven occasions. Seventh-tier Stourbridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, faces a rearranged second-round tie at home to Northampton Town on Dec. 13 before it can contemplate a visit to league Two (fourth-tier) Wycombe Wanderers. There are four all-Premier League ties, including Hull City at home to Swansea City and Burnley away to Sunderland. Second-tier Reading's boss Stam was a favorite during three years at United, where the Netherlands international was part of the famous 1998-99 treble-winning side under Alex Ferguson. He also won league titles either side of that historic season.
