The Tigers head to The Den knowing they’re one win away from Wembley
Regan Slater of Hull City reacts towards teammate Charlie Hughes (Image: Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic’s 50th game in charge saw his Hull City side held to a 0-0 draw by Millwall in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock at a sold-out MKM Stadium, though City had the better of the few chances in a cagey affair played out in a raucous atmosphere, with Mo Belloumi going close and Oli McBurnie flashing a header inches wide.
The Tigers boss will be pleased with how his side defended against Alex Neil’s Lions, with them boasting the best away record in the regular Championship season.
City will head to The Den on Monday as firm underdogs, but knowing the tie remains very much alive and firmly in the balance.
Boss Jakirovic opted against making any changes from the side that beat Norwich City 2-1 on the final day last Saturday afternoon, keeping faith with the same XI.
Both sets of players were met by a wall of noise and fireworks, and the game started in explosive fashion with the visitors earning a corner inside a minute, before City broke and Mo Belloumi twisted and turned inside the box as the space opened up, firing just wide.
The Lions were dominating the ball, though they were restricted to a couple of efforts well wide of Pandur’s left-hand upright, but it was the Tigers who were a threat on the counter-attack again. Ryan Giles’ cross from the left was inches away from McBurnie inside the six-yard box, before it came out to Belloumi, who cut in off the left and fired straight down the throat of Anthony Patterson.
Moments later, City won it back with McBurnie freeing Gelhardt, and as he turned inside the box looking to shoot with his left foot, he lost his footing at the wrong moment.
Millwall were enjoying the lion’s share of the possession, with City a threat on the counterattack. Belloumi was the Tigers’ outlet on the right side, cutting in and curling over. An absorbing first half came and went in a flash, with no quarter given by either side.
Early in the second half, McBurnie did well to hold off his man and roll across to Coyle, who drove just over the angle of Patterson’s bar. De Norre claimed the honour of picking up the night’s first caution for dragging down Crooks. City were enjoying their best spell of the game, but lacked the final bit of quality, be that from Giles, Millar or Crooks when trying to put balls into the box.
City’s first changes came with just over 20 minutes to go when Yu Hirakawa and Kyle Joseph replaced Millar and Belloumi and almost instantly, the Japan international crosses for McBurnie to glance a tough chance just wide of the far post.
De Norre and Ballo were then replaced by Barry Bannan, who was given a warm welcome by the City fans, and Luke Cundle, while Kieran Dowell was on for Gelhardt.
Pandur was forced into a rare save when he beat away an effort from Azeez, and then on the break, Camiel Neghli wasted a glorious chance when he sliced wide from the penalty spot. Alfie Doughty was next on for Zak Sturge as the game headed into the final 10 minutes and opened up.
Millwall did have the ball in the back of the City net with five minutes to go, but referee Ward, who had tried to let the contest flow all night, had spotted a foul and chalked it off.
Mihailo Ivanovic replaced Coburn, while John Lundstram came on for Slater, who was given a standing ovation by the home crowd for his efforts.
Neither side could find the winning moment in the final stages, and both were applauded off by their respective supporters.
Attention now turns to Monday night’s contest in South London, with all to play for and a place at Wembley Stadium the prize on offer for the winner.
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Hull City: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Crooks, Slater, Millar, Gelhardt, Belloumi, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Ajayi, McNair, Dowell, Hirakawa, Gyabi, Joseph, Koumas, Lundstram.
Millwall: Patterson, Sturge, Crama, Cooper, Ballo, Neghli, Azeez, Leonard, Coburn, De Norre, Mazou-Sacko. Subs: Crocombe, McNamara, Mitchell, Ivanovic, Doughty, Langstaff, Watson, Cundle, Bannan.
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 24,623 (2,308 from Millwall)
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