Hull produced a composed, clinical performance at The Den to beat Millwall 2-0 and book a place in the Championship play-off final. After a goalless first leg, Mohamed Belloumi broke the deadlock midway through the second half and substitute Joe Gelhardt sealed the tie to send Hull to Wembley on Saturday, May 23.
The breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute when Matt Crooks slid a pass to Belloumi, who cut inside the box and curled a superb finish beyond Anthony Patterson. Fifteen minutes later Hull countered quickly: Belloumi drove forward and skidded a low cross across the six-yard box for Gelhardt, introduced moments earlier, to dink a composed low shot that squirmed under Patterson and over the line.
The away end erupted while three Millwall stands were left stunned. On the balance of play in the second leg, Hull were deserved winners, showing the individual moments of quality that have propelled them through the season.
Hull have become the first side finishing sixth in seven years to reach the Championship play-off final, and only the fifth time this has happened in the Championship era since 2004/05. The achievement is particularly remarkable given the club’s recent struggles: they only avoided relegation on the final day last season, have battled injury problems and operated under a transfer embargo this term.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic, speaking after the match, reflected on the significance: “It’s an amazing feeling. We were fantastic today. It was a very difficult, demanding game. I have had success as a coach before, but this might be the best because of everything we went through this season — injuries and the embargo. This is maybe the best thing that has happened in football in my life.”
Millwall boss Alex Neil rejected suggestions that a substitution error cost his side, after Alfie Doughty was introduced and Belloumi immediately exploited the space. Neil said: “What do you do, not bring anybody on? Your job as a player is to come on and be up to the speed of the game and do your job properly. The lads that come on the pitch and the lads that start should be fit and ready and available.”
Sky Sports’ Andy Hinchcliffe praised Hull’s game plan: they do not need to dominate possession to be dangerous, he said, but possess individuals who can change matches. Former defender Curtis Davies warned that Millwall will be a side other teams do not take for granted next season and stressed the club will have to balance selling talent with improving the squad amid stronger competition.
Hull are one win away from a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, and will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough at Wembley. Their route to the final under Jakirovic has been defined by resilience, tactical discipline and decisive moments of quality — exactly the traits that carried them through tonight.