City will contest the richest game in football under the arch later this month
Mo Belloumi celebrates scoring in the play-off semi-final at Millwall (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
A beaming Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic was filled with pride after guiding his side to the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
City delivered a dominant second-half display to secure a deserved 2-0 win at The Den against a punch-drunk Millwall side, courtesy of goals from substitutes Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt.
Level after three halves of the semi-final, Jakirovic’s masterplan worked a treat to quieten a hostile home crowd at The Den, before Belloumi curled in a delicious effort with 25 minutes to go.
Belloumi, who replaced the injured Kyle Joseph on the stroke of half-time, then turned provider for Gelhardt to slam in the second with just over 10 minutes left.
As the home crowd streamed out in the dark Bermondsey night, City could have added more to their tally, with the final whistle met by huge roars from a sold-out away following.
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Despite winning titles in Bosnia and Croatia, Jakirovic says leading City out under the arch later this month will be his proudest moment.
“It’s like a dream,” the City chief told Hull Live. “It’s like a dream because if you told me at the start of the season you would be in the final, I would say you are crazy.
“This is in our circumstances; we had the embargo. This group of players, since day one, they’re very hardworking, their togetherness is fantastic, there’s very high chemistry between them, they are literally friends there.
“Every day they are together, so this is also a great achievement for the club, for me as well, to get to the final; it’s unbelievable.
“Since I’m a coach, maybe the best thing I’ve done. I won some titles, which is great, but in these circumstances, to be in the final is a great achievement.
“It’s 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.”
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