Hull City are one Wembley ⁠final away from a return to the Premier League after ending Millwall’s hopes with a ​2-0 away win in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg on Monday.
Second-half substitute Mohamed Belloumi broke the deadlock at The Den, after the first leg in Hull ended 0-0 last week, when the winger curled a 64th-minute stunner into the far corner.
The goal shocked Millwall, who finished the season third overall and missed out on automatic promotion ⁠by one point to Ipswich Town while Coventry City clinched the title, and Belloumi was not done yet.
He made the run ⁠and fed the ball through to Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt to score the second in the 79th – a minute after he came on – with goalkeeper ​Anthony Patterson getting a hand to the ball but unable to stop it trickling over the line.
Hull became the first second-tier team since Derby County in 2018-19 to reach ​the Wembley ⁠Championship play-off final after finishing the season sixth.
Millwall had been seeking a return to the ⁠top flight for the ​first time since 1990, while Hull last secured promotion to the Premier ​League in 2016 and were relegated again the following season.
The play-off final, dubbed ​the ‘richest game in football’ ​as the gateway to ⁠Premier ⁠League wealth, will be held at Wembley on May 23.
Southampton and Middlesbrough play the other semi-final second leg on Tuesday after also ending the first match goalless.
10:39pm
Thanks for joining us
That brings our coverage of Hull’s play-off semi-final victory over Millwall to an end, with Sergej Jakirovic’s side now just one Wembley win away from a Premier League return. Thanks for joining us!
10:36pm
‘Best thing that has happened in football in my life’, says Jakirovic
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic speaking on Sky Sports: “A great feeling and an amazing feeling.
“Millwall are very difficult and demanding, we knew they would start well and be a threat. But we are going to Wembley.”
Asked if the substitutes have given him a selection headache for the final, he said: “There is no headache, from day one every player is important and has an impact.
“For Mo Belloumi he had injury and didn’t train, and we decided to spare him in the first half, and come on second half. But then Kyle Joseph came off so we had to bring him on early.
“I have seen this all season they are a good group and stick together, the chemistry between the players, I am very proud of these players. I told them to just dream, and every game we got better and better. This is my dream come true.
“I had great success as a coach, and this might be number one for me, with a lot of injuries, and this is the best thing that has happened in football in my life.”
10:31pm
That Wembley feeling
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic celebrates in front of the fans – Adam Davy/PA
All smiles for Oliver McBurnie and John Lundstram – Adam Davy/PA
Liam Millar on the back of difference-maker Mohamed Belloumi – Warren Little/Getty Images
10:28pm
‘We all know what Belloumi is about’, says Coyle
Hull City captain Lewie Coyle On Mo Belloumi: “He’s incredible. We are so lucky that we’ve got so many players that can come on and impact the game.
“We all know what that boy’s about. I’m so pleased for him.
“He’s had an incredibly tough injury but it says a lot about him and the recovery team that he’s come back as he has.”
10:26pm
‘One more special game to go’, says Coyle
Hull City captain Lewie Coyle speaking to Sky Sports: “Incredible. It’s something we all believed we could do when we finalised the play-off spot on the last day in such dramatic fashion.
“And then we said, ‘why shouldn’t it be us?’ We’ve grafted all year to put ourselves in this position and it wasn’t just a case of us making up the play-offs.
“We fully believed going into the two legs against a very, very good Millwall side that we could come out on top.
“What a fantastic performance from the lads. So professional. We’ve got one more special game to go to achieve what everybody in that dressing room believes we can do.”
10:20pm
‘Great feeling to score’, says Gelhardt
Hull City goalscorer Joe Gelhardt speaking to Sky Sports: “I saw when I hit it I was waiting for the ball to go over the line. It was a great feeling to score.”
Asked about being left out, Geldhart added: “You can’t be mad at that manager, he has his plan. Every player wants to play but it is the manager’s decision and you have to prove that you have the right to play.
“It is a tough place to come and can be a difficult place to come and get a result, but it shows the characters we have in dressing room, and 2-0 was good result.”
10:18pm
McBurnie: We’ve proved them wrong again
Hull City striker Oli McBurnie speaking to Sky Sports: “We knew it was going to be a tough time over two legs.
“Mo’s [Belloumi] brilliant, he can be whatever he wants to be.
“It’s pretty typical of our season. Nobody fancied us last season and we’ve proved them wrong again.
“I think we can enjoy tonight. We’ve got a week and a half so we can have some enjoyment tonight and get back to it in a couple of days.”
10:14pm
Remarkable scenes at The Den
Remarkable scenes at The Den with the celebrating Hull players flanked by two rows of stewards and lapping up the adulation and thanks of their supporters high above them at one end of The Den.
As they have all season, they portray the impression of a club united by a common goal against external expectations.
Mohamed Belloumi (second from right) and Oliver McBurnie (right) lead Hull City celebrations – Warren Little/Getty Images
10:12pm
‘What a performance from Hull’, says Davies
Former Hull City defender Curtis Davies on Sky Sports: “Unreal. Mo Belloumi, he was the only one who had that individual bit of quality who could open up the game.
“Today he comes on and my did he pay it back to his manager. Straight away he gets a run at Alfie Doughty and Belloumi made no mistake. Brilliant left foot, off the post and in.
“What a performance from Hull. They’ve kept up the tradition of Hull City winning away play-off legs.
10:11pm
The decisive moments
After 154 minutes without a goal, it was a pair of strikes in the space of 16 minutes that decided things.
Mohamed Belloumi curls home Hull’s opener – Warren Little/Getty Images
Joe Gelhardt’s strike squeezes over the line – Adam Davy/PA
10:08pm
WATCH: Gelhardt seals victory
10:06pm
Opponents in the final
Hull will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley on May 23.
Those two sides, who finished level on points in the regular campaign, meet on the South Coast tomorrow night having also played out a goalless draw in their first leg.
Saturday’s clash at the Riverside was overshadowed by “spygate”, with Southampton accepting a misconduct charge after a member of their analyst team was caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session on Thursday.
10:02pm
WATCH: Belloumi breaks the deadlock
10:02pm
Celebration-time for Hull
Hull’s players run to the end where their fans are, behind the goal of their two strikes this evening. There are jubilant scenes for the visitors, who finished 10 points behind Millwall this season.
The home side are making their way round the edge of the pitch, applauding their supporters after a heartbreaking second half.
09:59pm
Belloumi makes the difference
After an even opening period, it was Belloumi who made the difference following his introduction shortly before half-time for the injured Joseph.
The Algerian broke the deadlock in this tie with a sublime curling strike and he was at the heart of the counter attack that led to Hull’s second.
09:57pm
Full time: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
Hull City are going to Wembley!
09:57pm
90+8 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
McNair makes the interception and releases Belloumi into space in the Millwall half. He tees up Koumas who tries his luck from the edge of the box but it’s tame.
Down the other end, Ivanovic fails to bring down a promising long ball, before Pandur grabs a cross, and the full-time whistle will be coming shortly.
09:53pm
90+5 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
Hull are doing well to see these out closing minutes. A decent ball is sent into the box by Millwall but Pandur can get there and that should be enough for the visitors.
09:52pm
90+1 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
It looks like Crama will not be able to continue after that challenge so Millwall will be finishing the game with 10 men.
Doughty lofts the free-kick into the area but Hull head clear. They are nearly there. Just seven minutes of added time to contend with.
09:49pm
90 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
Doughty floats a ball into the area from the left and Azeez comes in from the right to get his head to it but it’s from 15 yards out and it’s easy for Pandur.
Gelhardt gives away a cheap free-kick with a late foul on Crama, who is unhappy with the challenge. Replays show it was a nasty one from the Hull man, needlessly catching the ankle of the defender.
09:47pm
87 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
Crooks has a golden chance to make it three, bursting through on goal but he just dinks his effort into the arms of Patterson.
Moments later and Hull have another great chance to counter but Koumas just slows things down after bursting into the Millwall half.
Azeez goes into the book for a rash challenge.
09:45pm
85 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2)
There are a host of changes coming now, with Hull making a triple-change to start with. McBurnie, Giles and Slater make way, and they are replaced by Koumas, McNair and Lundstram.
Neil makes his last couple of changes with Cundle and Langstaff coming on for Mazou-Sacko and Coburn.
09:40pm Goals
GOAL! Gelhardt doubles lead moments after introduction
Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 2 (2) (Gelhardt) What an impact by Gelhardt, scoring Hull’s second just moments after coming on!
Belloumi pinches the ball off Cooper just inside his own half and he combines with Slater to be released down Hull’s right flank.
He picks out Gelhardt in the left of the area with the outside of his boot. The substitute drives an effort towards the bottom right corner and it squeezes underneath the hands of Patterson before dribbling over the line.
Do Millwall have anything left in the tank?
09:38pm
78 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1)
Millar makes way for Hull, with Gelhardt coming on for what the visitors hope is the final 15 minutes.
09:36pm
77 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1)
Millwall have had nearly 70% of the ball since going behind but they have not mustered a shot in that time. They have to improve if they are to get back in this.
And the home side do raise the tempo now, with a series of dangerous crosses that results in a corner down their left. It’s headed away bravely at the near post by Crooks before Ivanovic heads over from the second delivery into the area. The striker had acres!
09:32pm
72 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1)
A shocking pass from Bannan gifts Hull a golden chance to double their lead!
The midfielder plays a square ball that is easily cut out by Belloumi and the goalscorer feeds Slater in a central position, but Cooper makes a crucial last-ditch block.
09:30pm Analysis
70 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1)
Lift-off. Finally a goal in this tie and you have to say it was deserved given Hull’s bravery to surge forward at every opportunity in this second half.
While the Hull players mobbed Mohamed Belloumi, they also took in the undiluted joy of their fans high above them behind the goal.
09:29pm
68 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1)
What have Millwall got in these final 25 minutes? They had the better chances of the two sides in the opening period but have struggled to create since the interval.
Hull’s defensive line will certainly be a back five rather than a back three, as long as it stays like this. Belloumi collects a cheap yellow card for delaying the restart.
09:24pm Goals
GOAL! Belloumi breaks deadlock with special strike
Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 1 (1) (Belloumi) After 150 minutes, we have a breakthrough in this semi-final tie.
Belloumi collects the ball in the right of the area and he shifts the ball onto his left foot before bending a sublime effort into the far corner.
It was made far too easy for the winger by Doughty, who had only just come on, but it’s a sensational goal.
09:23pm
64 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Neil is making another couple of changes, with Sturge and De Norre making way, and Doughty and Bannan coming on for what could be the final 30 minutes.
09:22pm
62 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Hull win another corner down their right flank but Egan sends his effort well wide under pressure from Crama.
Moments later and Hughes latches onto a loose ball on the edge of the area but he sends his volley well over.
09:19pm
59 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Joseph has just emerged onto the Hull pitch on crutches following his first-half withdrawal. A hugely disappointing evening for the forward.
The visitors come forward down their right once again and Crama makes a complete mess of his clearance following Coyle’s cross, sending it behind for a corner under little pressure.
Fortunately for Crama, his fellow centre-back Cooper deals with the set-piece.
09:16pm
57 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Belloumi picks the ball up in a promising position down Hull’s right, but after floating inside, his cross is well over-hit.
A first change for Millwall now, with Ivanovic coming on for Ballo. It looks like it will be a front two for the hosts, with Neghli shifting out to the left.
09:12pm
53 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Another Hull centre-back goes into the book, with Hughes picking up a yellow for hauling down Coburn, who showed great physical presence to spin the defender.
The visitors deal with the set-piece sent into the area.
09:08pm
47 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
It’s a golden chance for Hull right at the start of this second half. Belloumi cuts in from the right and slides Slater into the right of the area with a sensational pass.
The midfielder squares the ball to McBurnie, who looks to turn it home from close range at the near post, but Crama is perfectly placed to make the block.
09:05pm
46 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
We’re back underway at The Den, with the hosts kicking things off, going from left to right in this second period, with both sides still hunting for the breakthrough in this tie.
09:02pm
‘Azeez the main supply line for Millwall’, says Rowett
Leicester City and ex-Millwall manager Gary Rowett on Sky Sports“I think they [Millwall] have had the better chances.
“Hull started well, didn’t they, but after 10-15 minutes it’s been Azeez, he has been the main supply line for Millwall.
“No-one has quite found the sufficient quality from their chances though.”
09:01pm
Awaiting the breakthrough
There haven’t been a great deal of clear-cut chances for either side, though it was Millwall who had the clearest opportunity when Ballo’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Egan.
The numbers tell a story of an even opening period, with seven shots each and Millwall only just edging the expected goals figures (0.68-0.67).
08:50pm
Half-time: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
McBurnie’s shocker of a free-kick is the final action of the opening period and after three halves in this semi-final tie, it remains goalless.
08:49pm
45+4 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
McBurnie wins a free-kick on the edge of Millwall’s area, about 25 yards from goal and slightly to the left of centre.
It’s the striker who steps up but his strike sails comfortably over the bar, to huge cheers from the home fans.
08:48pm
45+2 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Millwall nearly capitalise on the extra man with Azeez sending a wonderful inswinging delivery into the area, but Ballo fails to get any contact on it after nipping in front of Pandur and the Hull keeper can punch clear.
Belloumi does now come on and he will want to impress in these final minutes of the half to get in his manager’s good books after that delay.
08:46pm
45+1 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Joseph is going to have make way here, helped off the pitch by the Hull medical staff to a standing ovation from the travelling supporters.
Replays show his left ankle got trapped and twisted awkwardly under the challenge of Ballo. It will be Belloumi coming on but, to his manager’s evident frustration, he is not quite ready yet. So Hull down to 10 for now.
There will be four minutes added on.
Kyle Joseph of Hull City is helped off the pitch – Warren Little/Getty Images
08:43pm
43 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
There is a break in play here, with Joseph staying down after a crunching – but fair – tackle from Ballo, and the Hull man appears to be in some pain.
This would be a desperately disappointing end to the game for the 24-year-old, who scored twice here this season. Let’s hope he’s okay.
08:40pm Analysis
40 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Every time a Millwall player takes possession of the ball in a central position somewhere near the penalty area, cries of “Shooooot” go up from the home fans.
So far, most of their players are resisting the urge. But the longer the game remains goalless, the greater the temptation, you feel.
08:39pm
38 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Millwall are screaming for a penalty, claiming a cross from the right was blocked by the arm of Hughes, but his arms were down by his side so the referee correctly waves away the appeals.
08:37pm
37 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
That’s Hull’s best effort of the game! Giles whips a wonderful ball into the area from the left and McBurnie gets his head – or shoulder – to the delivery at the near post, but Patterson reacts well to palm it over the bar.
The striker is then appealing for a foul from the subsequent corner, claiming he was being held, but the referee is not convinced.
Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson makes a crucial save – Adam Davy/PA
08:35pm
35 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Mazou-Sacko is afforded space on the edge of the area but his effort on goal is tame and comfortable for Pandur to deal with.
You get the sense that Hull have just about weathered that Millwall storm.
08:33pm
33 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Before Hull take the free-kick, Joseph goes down off the ball after receiving a stray arm to the face from Cooper, but there will be nothing more than a talking-to for the defender.
Millwall deal with the set-piece, and the subsequent long throw, before Egan heads over from a third ball into the area.
08:32pm
31 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
McBurnie shows his quality in his own box with a couple of important defensive headers but a miss-kick from Coyle then gifts Millwall possession in a dangerous area on the edge of the box and they win another corner.
Pandur is able to claim this delivery, under surprisingly little pressure, before immediately going long to Millar, who does really well to win his side a free-kick.
08:26pm
26 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Hull give possession away cheaply and Sturge is released down Millwall’s left, before winning his side another corner.
Crama attacks it with purpose at the near post, but he can’t direct his header goalbound.
08:24pm
24 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Hull are on the ropes now, with Azeez getting a lot of joy down the home side’s right, this time winning a corner down that flank.
Pandur is out well to punch the cross clear before Neghli scuffs the rebound wide of the mark. After a strong start from the visitors, it’s been all Millwall in the last 10 minutes.
08:21pm
21 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
It’s cleared off the line by Hull! After Ballo squanders a volleyed effort from inside the area, Millwall keep the pressure on and it’s swung back into box by Azeez.
Pandur spills a knock-down and the ball drops to Ballo, who hooks an effort past the Hull keeper from close range, but Egan is on the line to hack it clear.
Moments later and Pandur is forced into action once again, parrying a powerful cross from Azeez away from danger.
08:17pm Analysis
17 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Usually you wait for a game to settle down into a pattern. With both sets of fans roaring for decisions to be given the way of their team, I’m not sure that this one ever will settle down.
It could be another 90 minutes, or maybe 120, of hassle and hustle that is finally settled by a kind or cruel bounce of the ball, or by a moment of magic amid the mayhem.
08:16pm
16 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Coyle is found in space down Hull’s right and he delivers a superb cross into the area but Cooper rises above McBurnie to nod it behind for a corner.
The delivery finds the head of Hughes, who flicks it towards the back post, but Crooks can’t get any contact on his attempted back-heel flick. Millwall looking shaky when defending set-pieces.
08:14pm
14 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Hull’s change of system is working well in the opening stages, with their wing-backs finding space and Millwall struggling to beat the press of the visitors when they have the ball.
Patterson goes long on this occasion and Azeez is unfortunate not to win the free-kick after being shoved in the back by Giles.
08:11pm
11 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Egan chops Neghli down on halfway and the Hull defender is, correctly, the first player in the book. A really rash and unnecessary challenge.
It’s very sloppy from Millwall, though, working it short down their right but immediately penalised for an offside.
08:09pm
9 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Cooper clatters into the back of Joseph, who scored a brace when the sides met at The Den in December, and the Millwall defender surely can’t afford many more of those before picking up a booking.
Left wing-back Giles is found in space on Hull’s left and his cross is squeezed behind for another corner for the visitors. Hughes wins the header at the back post, but under pressure he can only nod it down and into the arms of Patterson.
08:05pm
5 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Millar gets his long throw right this time and it finds the head of McBurnie, who flicks it on into the six-yard box, but Millwall can clear for a throw from the opposite flank.
A dominant header this time from Cooper and the hosts can finally escape their half.
08:03pm
3 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
It’s been a really positive start by Hull in a testing atmosphere and they the win first corner of the match down their left flank.
Egan gets his head to the set-piece at the near post but he gets too much contact on his effort and it sails over the bar.
08:02pm
2 mins: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
Patterson is having to deal with a really low sun, right in his eyeline in this first half. Can Hull exploit this?
The visitors have an early chance to launch a long throw into the box but the ball slips out of Millar’s hands as he looks to do so. The home fans enjoyed that one.
08:00pm
1 min: Millwall 0 (0) Hull City 0 (0)
We are underway at The Den, with Hull kicking things off, going from left to right in this opening period.
07:57pm
Kick-off approaching
The two teams are waiting in the tunnel, all the players looking extremely focused ahead of this massive match.
Eventually, they emerge to the sell-out crowd at The Den, which is unsurprisingly in full voice.
07:54pm
Have your say
We are less than 10 minutes away from kick-off at The Den. Who do you think we will be seeing at Wembley?
07:50pm
Neil on team news
Alex Neil has told Sky Sports that Millwall “have a good record against a back five” following Hull’s change of system. He adds that his side have got “a good chance” this evening.
07:47pm
Jakirovic on change in system
Sergej Jakirovic has told Sky Sports that his switch to a back five/three is to achieve “more stability”, with Millwall “coming high with both full-backs” in the first leg.
07:44pm
Odds stacked against Hull
Hull are aiming to become the first sixth-placed side to reach the Championship play-off final since Derby County in 2018-19.
Meanwhile, the last sixth-placed team to achieve promotion was Blackpool in the 2009-10 campaign.
Derby lost to Aston Villa in the play-off final in 2019 under Frank Lampard – Matthew Ashton/Getty Images
07:41pm
Final preparations
07:38pm
At stake for the winner
The winner of the tonight’s game will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley on May 23.
Those two sides, who finished level on points in the regular campaign, meet on the South Coast tomorrow night having also played out a goalless draw in their first leg.
Saturday’s clash at the Riverside was overshadowed by “spygate”, with Southampton accepting a misconduct charge after a member of their analyst team was caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session on Thursday.
07:34pm
Huge occasion at The Den
All quiet in south-east London so far, but it was noticeable how early the Millwall fans started mingling outside The Den this evening, fully two-and-a-half hours before kick-off.
It has the feel of a huge occasion because it is. Millwall were last in England’s top flight 36 years ago, two years before the Premier League came into existence.
For Hull City, the absence has been a shorter one. Eight years, but both clubs understand the significance of making the play-offs in a season when many of the fancied sides – Sheffield United, Norwich City and Leicester City to name but three – have missed out. It won’t be this quiet for much longer…
Fans gather outside The Den – Adam Davy/PA
07:31pm
Can Hull draw on memories of recent trips to The Den?
Hull City have won on their last two trips to The Den, most recently claiming a 3-1 victory in December, with Kyle Joseph bagging a brace.
However, Millwall recorded the most clean sheets on home soil than any other Championship side this season, while tonight’s visitors won just one of their final seven league games on the road.
07:26pm
Belloumi’s near wonder-goal in stalemate
One of Hull’s best chances in the first leg came after a sensational run by Mohamed Belloumi in the opening two minutes of the game, but the midfielder, who is on the bench tonight, could only fire wide.
07:22pm
Millwall denied late lead in first leg
Late on in Friday’s first leg, Millwall had a Ryan Leonard goal chalked off by referee Gavin Ward for a foul in the build-up by Tristan Crama. Manager Alex Neil called the decision “harsh”.
07:18pm
‘This is the dream’, says Jakirovic
Meanwhile, Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic claimed the pressure is with Millwall following the first leg, saying: “We will have much more space at their place because the onus will be on them.
“It was as I expected. It was tough and it was hard. At times perhaps in some situations we were a little too hectic. We defended well when we had to, though, and showed plenty of good things.”
Speaking this week, Jakirovic told BBC Radio: “This is the dream, especially when we started with the [transfer] embargo and everything.
“It’s been an amazing season for us. We are two games form the Premier League and we will do everything we can to get there.
“I’d say you were crazy if you offered me this at the start of the season, nobody would have bet on this scenario.
“I am very proud. You cannot take anything away from the players this season – but the job is not finished yet.”
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic – Richard Sellers/PA
07:14pm
Neil’s first-leg verdict
Alex Neil said the balance of power shifted in Millwall’s favour after a tense goalless draw in their Championship first-leg play-off at Hull City.
“You could see nobody wanted to give anything away,” Neil said. “I thought we were slightly better in the first half and I thought the disallowed goal was quite harsh. But all in all, that should give us confidence going back to our place.
“We didn’t play as if we didn’t want to lose. I’m not naive, I know Hull are happy soaking up pressure. If we can get the first goal at our ground then that will be a big changer.
“We are content, shall I say. Of course, we’d rather have got a goal, but we did well. If you could say to anyone, you are going into the second leg at home all square, then you’d take that.”
He added: “I thought we were the better side and, when we made changes, we had more of a stranglehold. We wanted the goal but, overall, I suppose we have to be satisfied.”
Millwall boss Alex Neil – Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images
07:10pm
Millwall arrive at the Den
07:07pm
Jakirovic makes two personnel changes and switches to back five
Sergej Jakirovic has made two changes to his Hull side, with Ajayi and Joseph replacing Belloumi and Gelhardt, suggesting a switch to a back five.
07:03pm
Millwall unchanged
Alex Neil has named an unchanged line-up following Friday’s first leg.
06:59pm
Millwall and Hull resume battle for Wembley after stalemate
Good evening and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the Championship play-offs as Millwall host Hull City in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Friday’s first leg at the MKM Stadium ended goalless after Millwall’s Ryan Leonard had a late goal chalked off, while both sides struck the woodwork but failed to find the breakthrough.
The winner of the tie will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley on May 23. Those two sides, who finished level on points in the regular campaign, meet on the South Coast tomorrow night having also played out a goalless draw in their first leg, overshadowed by “spygate”.
Millwall come into tonight’s contest as favourites, having finished the season 10 points and three places above their opponents, just one point behind Ipswich Town and the automatic promotion places.
However, Hull will draw confidence from victories in their last two visits to the Den, most recently claiming a 3-1 win in December, with Kyle Joseph at the double that day.
Speaking after the tense stalemate on Friday, Millwall boss Alex Neil felt the balance of power had shifted in his side’s favour. “We are content, shall I say. Of course, we’d rather have got a goal, but we did well. If you could say to anyone, ‘you are going into the second leg at home all square’, then you’d take that.”
As for Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic, he admitted this week he did not expect to even be involved at this stage of the campaign, given Hull’s transfer restrictions this season. “This is the dream,” he told BBC Radio, “especially when we started with the embargo and everything… I’d say you were crazy if you offered me this at the start of the season.”
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