The Tigers are just one game away from promotion to the Premier League
Oli McBurnie has been one of Hull City’s big stars this season (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Scotland legend Ally McCoist admits Hull City’s rise has been one of the great stories of the Championship season as the Tigers prepare for next Saturday’s play-off final.
The Tigers have gone from being one game away from relegation to League One to being within one of promotion to the Premier League after a ten-year absence.
City, as it stands, will face Southampton, who finished fourth in the Championship and overcame Middlesbrough over two legs, though the games were shrouded in controversy because of alleged spying by the South Coast club.
Despite the Tigers’ remarkable season under Sergej Jakirovic, spearheaded by 17-goal striker Oli McBurnie, McCoist feels Southampton will edge the showpiece game next weekend.
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“Hull City have been one of the stories of the season, and I’ve been delighted for big Oli McBurnie,” McCoist told talkSPORT Bet. “He’s had a brilliant season. He’s one of these players that’s maybe not easy on the eye, but he’s one of your first picks in the team, because you know he’s never going to let you down. He sums Hull up to me. That was a brilliant result they had against Millwall at The Den. It really was a terrific result.
“That said, I think Southampton will just sneak it. I was very, very impressed when I saw Southampton. I’ve seen them a couple of times this year and have been very impressed. I can see them sneaking it. I think it’ll be a tight game. Sadly, I don’t think it’ll be the best game to watch. Sometimes they never are these games. But I can see Southampton getting over the line.”
Uncertainty remains about next weekend’s final, however, after Southampton were charged by the EFL. On Friday, Middlesbrough released a statement calling on the authorities to boot their rivals out of the play-offs once the ongoing independent investigation has been concluded.
McCoist, though, believes Southampton will be fined, and the game will go ahead at Wembley next weekend as planned: “Well, Christ Almighty, I mean, the punishment could range from anything, couldn’t it? “I’m reading a lot of people want a points deduction. I’m reading a lot of people saying they should give half the income to Middlesbrough and things like that. But I don’t think that will happen. I think it’ll just be a big fine, even bigger than the one Leeds were handed a few years ago.”
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