The Tigers are back in the top flight after a dramatic finish at Wembley
Hull City’s Oli McBurnie scored the winner at Wembley Stadium(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Oli McBurnie’s 95th-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win for Hull City over Middlesbrough, and a sensational return to the Premier League after a decade away.
The Scotsman prodded in after goalkeeper Sol Brynn had fumbled Yu Hirakawa’s cross, to send 35,000 City fans wild at the east end of Wembley Stadium.
McBurnie had headed against the bar in the first half, which City shaded on attempts of note, but the game, played out in front of nearly 85,000 on a blisteringly hot afternoon, was as tense as these occasions so often are.
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The Tigers had to suffer through 15 minutes of added time before the whistle went, and their surge from bottom to top was complete, and was in some way fitting that McBurnie should be the one to snatch the winner, in a week where was left out of Scotland’s World Cup squad.
Given how well the Tigers played in that second leg last Monday, it wasn’t a surprise Sergej Jakirovic made one change, and that was enforced due to Kyle Joseph’s ankle surgery. In came Mo Belloumi, with the rest of the starting XI remaining the same from The Den, though Cody Drameh and Amir Hadziahmetovic returned from injury to be named on the bench. There was no David Akintola in the matchday squad, despite being re-registered at the back end of the week.
For Boro, the returning Hayden Hackney was named on the bench, but former City promotion winner Alfie Jones was sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery.
Boro started brightly amid what was a cacophony of noise under bright skies in the capital, with Ivor Pandur needing to be alert to claim a teasing ball into his box. City were looking nervous, and McBurnie was toiling, having appeared to take a knock inside a difficult couple of minutes.
Matt Crooks caught Alan Browne late in the middle of the Boro half, which allowed both sets of players to come and get water to cap what had been a largely uneventful opening 10 minutes or so. A scrappy affair continued, with the Tigers unable to get the ball, which allowed Morris to drag a shot well wide.
City’s first attempt came after 23 minutes when Millar’s looping cross to the back post was headed at goal by Coyle, awkwardly saved by Sol Brynn, before Giles’ lofted effort would have been perfect in a week’s time when Hull KR are at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final.
A rare foray forward short of half-time saw Belloumi play Millar through but Brynn was out quickly to hammer away before the Canadian could get to it. Belloumi fizzed one wide from distance. A decent, patient spell of possession saw City craft their best chance with Giles crossing for McBurnie to head onto the bar and over via a deflection off Malanda.
Right at the end of the half, a long lump forward from Brynn caught City out, and Strelec picked up the scraps and drove wide, bringing a typically attritional half to an end.
From the restart, City were almost in trouble when Pandur’s clearance was closed down by Strelec, before spinning away to the safety of the corner flag. Whittaker’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Egan as Boro, playing away from their supporters, looked to start the half on the front foot, and they almost did when Fry headed onto the roof of the net from Targett’s corner.
Just after the hour, amid a spell of openings at both ends, Joe Gelhardt was introduced for Millar moments after Belloumi cut in off the right side and saw his shot deflect up and into the grateful arms of Brynn.
Huge roars emanated from the Boro end of Wembley when Hayden Hackney got the call from Kim Hellberg to come on in place of Strelec with 20 minutes of normal time on Jarred Gillett’s watch.
A less than impressed Belloumi was replaced by Yu Hirakawa, with Giles, who had appeared to hurt himself, came off to be replaced by the fit again Drameh with just over 10 minutes to go. After a tussle with Slater, McGree couldn’t carry on, and on came Sontje Hansen.
Deep, deep into added time, Hirakawa’s cross was fumbled into the path of McBurnie who turned in from close range, to spark wild celebrations.
John Lundstram and Paddy McNair were introduced with two minutes of added time to go, for Coyle and Slater, and without any drama, City saw it out. Three play-off games, no goals conceded.
And breathe.
Hull City: Pandur, Giles (Hirakawa 75), Egan, Ajayi, Coyle ©, Hughes, Slater, Crooks, Millar (Gelhardt 62), Belloumi, McBurnie: Subs: Phillips, Koumas, Drameh, Hirakawa, McNair, Dowell, Lundstram, Hadziahmetovic.
Middlesbrough: Brynn, Brittain, Targett, Fry (c), McGree, (Hansen 75) Whittaker, Ayling, Strelec (Hackney 70), Browne, Morris, Malanda. Subs: Wildsmith, Gilbery, Silvera, Castledine, Edmundson, Hansen, Ibeh, Sarmiento.
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Attendance: 84,506
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