The Scotland striker’s 95th-minute winner sealed City’s return to the top flight
Hull City’s Oli McBurnie celebrates scoring the winner at Wembley(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Oli McBurnie slammed in a 95th-minute winner to seal a 1-0 win for Hull City against Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium, and a return to the Premier League.
Boro dominated possession throughout, but it was the Tigers who came closest to scoring in the first half with Lewie Coyle’s header turned over, and Oli McBurnie’s nodded effort hitting the bar.
The Teesside outfit struggled to test Ivor Pandur throughout, and even the introduction of Hayden Hackney failed to spark Boro into life, and it was McBurnie who pounced when Sol Brynn fumbled a cross from Yu Hirakawa to turn in the winner.
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After a decade away, the Tigers are back in the top flight and can now look forward to Premier League football at the MKM Stadium once again.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at Wembley….
Ivor Pandur: Was alert inside a couple of minutes to collect a cross at his near post and diverted a decent cross away from danger. Kicking was a tad suspect in the first period. Barely had anything to do in the game. 8/10
Ryan Giles: One of City’s best outlets in the first period, and it was his cross that McBurnie headed against the woodwork late in it. Looked to have hurt himself when doing some vital defending and had to be replaced. 7/10
Charlie Hughes: A solid enough opening half, aside from one moment of concern at the end when he slipped which allowed Strelec to drag wide. Aside from that, barely put a foot wrong. 9/10
Semi Ajayi: Looked largely unfussed in the opening period, and did what he needed to do without any great drama. Coasted through the second half with his slippers on, a display of absolute calm and control. 9/10
John Egan: Crucial interception inside the opening quarter of an hour, and showed his experience as it wore on. Even tried one of his trademark runs forward at one stage. Like his two central defensive partners, was a colossus. 9/10
Lewie Coyle: Had City’s first attempt on target with an awkward header, which was tipped over by Sol Brynn. Shifted over to left-back when Giles departed. This will have meant so much. 9/10
Regan Slater: Worked his socks off in the first half, but spent most of it chasing around as City were played through at will. Gained greater control in the second half and never stopped. 8/10
Matt Crooks: Couldn’t really get himself into the contest in the early stages, certainly not having the impact that he would have liked. Couldn’t quite connect with a Coyle cross, and his header lacked power. Battled tirelessly alongside Slater. 8/10
Liam Millar: A couple of moments of real danger down the left, and carved out half an opening for Coyle to head at goal. Wasn’t quite his afternoon. 6/10
Mo Belloumi: Flashed an effort wide late in the first half, where he’d struggled to get into after sliding Liam Millar through. Still looked City’s big threat, and was hugely frustrated when he did come off. 6/10
Oli McBurnie: Looked to have taken a knock inside the first couple of minutes, had to deal with long lumps forward before getting to Giles’ cross and seeing his header hit the bar and go over, via the back of Malanda, but he didn’t get a corner. When you needed the big player, there he was. 10/10
Subs:
Joe Gelhardt (for Millar 62): Shifted to the right after Belloumi went off, and fizzed a shot wide after the Boro defence seemingly fell asleep from a tight angle. Made a difference. 7/10
Cody Drameh (for Giles 75): Provided valuable energy as the game wore on, and was crucial in the final stages as City saw it out. 7/10
Yu Hirakawa (for Belloumi 75): Almost managed to get himself away before Ayling came back to pick his pocket, and provided the telling cross which led to McBurnie’s goal. 8/10
Paddy McNair (for Coyle 98): Hugely important role in just adding extra cover after McBurnie’s winning goal. 6/10
John Lundstram (for Slater 98): Like McNair, getting on the pitch in those final moments was crucial to add extra freshness and experience. 6/10
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