The Tigers will be heading into the Lions’ Den on Monday night
Hull City’s players celebrate Oli McBurnie’s goal at Millwall(Image: Pro Sports Images)
Hull City star Matt Crooks says it will be a siege mentality for the Tigers when they go to Millwall on Monday night, looking to secure a place in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
After Friday’s stalemate at the MKM Stadium, both sides are 90 minutes and potentially extra-time and penalties away from a place in world football’s most lucrative game.
Crooks, who played his part in a battling display at the MKM Stadium, knows what’s lying in wait for Sergej Jakirovic’s men at what will be a hugely partisan home environment at The Den.
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Key to that will be trying to have more of the ball, and using it much more efficiently when they do get on it, unlike on Friday when City gave up possession too cheaply.
“I think we can be a bit more proactive on the ball and maybe play through the lines a little bit more,” he told Hull Live. “Maybe have a little bit more control when we’ve got it. It’s one game, a shootout on Monday, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Sergej Jakirovic and Alex Neil both praised the MKM Stadium atmosphere in the first leg, and in South East London, the Tigers will be backed by a sold-out contingent of just over 2,000 away supporters.
Their support will be needed in what will be a hostile atmosphere in Bermondsey, and Crooks expects complete backing from the away following, as the players look to keep their terrific season going.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable before the game,” the experienced playmaker continued. “It’s class to play in those moments; we’re really lucky to be here where we are, but it can affect you; it might bring a slight nerve to the game, and you know what’s at stake. There’s a lot on the line.
“It’s not just a normal game for us lads, but you’ve just got to try and bring a little bit of calm to the game and try to play it as normally as you can. Hopefully that’s an experience for the lads now that maybe haven’t been in that situation before. We’ve got a lot of young lads that maybe haven’t been in that situation, and they can use that experience now ahead of Monday.
“We’re so lucky to be here, and we’ve had such a good season. This is the reward that we wanted, and this is a position that we want to put ourselves in.
“You’re potentially one game away from Wembley and then one game from the Premier League, so I mean, if you can’t give it your all, then when can you?
“Definitely (we’ll need the away fans). It’ll be us lot in the changing room, a few in the stands, and then all the away fans against the whole of Millwall.
“It’s going to be a siege mentality, but we’ll need them. They were great (on Friday night), they’ve been great the away fans all season as well, been everywhere with us, and I feel like we’ve given them some good performances, and I hope we can give another one on Monday.”
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