Alex Neil said the balance of power has shifted in Millwall’s favour after a tense goalless draw in their Championship first-leg play-off at Hull City.
There was brief crowd trouble at MKM Stadium as police intervened to stop a skirmish and the atmosphere at the Den promises to be boisterous with a place at Wembley and a shot at the Premier League on the line next week.
Millwall had a late effort from Ryan Leonard contentiously disallowed by referee Gavin Ward for a foul in the build-up by Tristan Crama. Neil called Ward’s interpretation of Crama’s tussle with Charlie Hughes “harsh”.
Camiel Neghli hit a post as Millwall finished strongly and Neil claimed momentum was with his side as they look to book a showdown against either Middlesbrough or Southampton, the latter charged on Friday evening for allegedly spying on their opponents.
“You could see nobody wanted to give anything away,” Neil said. “I thought we were slightly better in the first half and I thought the disallowed goal was quite harsh. But all in all, that should give us confidence going back to our place.
“We didn’t play as if we didn’t want to lose. I’m not naive, I know Hull are happy soaking up pressure. If we can get the first goal at our ground then that will be a big changer.
“We are content, shall I say. Of course, we’d rather have got a goal, but we did well. If you could say to anyone, you are going into the second leg at home all square, then you’d take that.”
Sergej Jakirovic, the Hull coach, claimed the pressure is with Neil’s men and said: “We will have much more space at their place because the onus will be on them.
“It was as I expected. It was tough and it was hard. At times perhaps in some situations we were a little too hectic. We defended well when we had to, though, and showed plenty of good things.”
The home side began the tie with all the confidence you would expect of a team boasting the best head-to-head record across the course of the season in encounters between the four clubs.
When Mohamed Belloumi sliced wide after summoning his inner Lionel Messi to weave through Millwall’s rearguard, it proved a portent of things to come.
Captain Lewie Coyle fired over from range before Liam Millar, unaware he had strayed offside, made a dreadful hash of controlling the ball after Oli McBurnie had found him on the edge of the six-yard box.
Neghli hit the woodwork as Millwall, dominating possession, established a foothold and Femi Azeez drew a fine save from Ivor Pandur, before Leonard was denied by referee Ward after steering the ball beyond the Croatian.
With McBurnie, John Egan and John Lundstram among those at his disposal boasting promotions on their CVs, Jakirovic will hope City’s greater experience of high-pressure games will prove decisive at the Den.
“There was a foul during the build-up,” he said, dismissing Neil’s claim that Crama’s challenge on Hughes had been “soft”.
“I thought we were the better side and, when we made changes, we had more of a stranglehold,” Neil countered. “We wanted the goal but, overall, I suppose we have to be satisfied.”
Goal or no goal?
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2026"I don't think there's anything in it!"
"His shirt is completely off!"A closer look at Ryan Leonard's disallowed goal 🔍 pic.twitter.com/Byp2XlOOHn
Millwall’s Ryan Leonard speaking to Sky Sports
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“At the time I thought it was a goal [his disallowed effort], I have not seen it yet. We will take the draw and go to The Den and the fans will be at it on Monday and we will be ready to go. It is play-off football but before the game we would have probably taken that and it is going to be a great occasion on Monday.”
Alex Neil on Millwall’s disallowed goal
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2026"I thought it was really really soft"
Alex Neil shares his thoughts on Millwall's disallowed goal in their play-off tie against Hull 🔊 pic.twitter.com/LXIB1tl6pa
Millwall boss Alex Neil speaking to Sky Sports
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“I thought we were the better side and we would have wanted to have taken a lead into the second leg, based on the fact that I thought we were the better side. They did not really risk the ball and put the ball forward. There were times when we could have moved the ball better, which we did more of in the second half. If you had said earlier in the season we would have one game at home to make the Championship play-off final all square I would have taken it.
“All the lads come into my thinking so I do not think specifically about one player. Every game is difficult so I would not necessarily say we have the edge. Everybody knows how the game will be played.”
Breaking news
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We have news ahead of the second semi-final tomorrow as Southampton have been charged by the EFL over allegations of spying on Middlesbrough’s training sessions. Here is the full statement from the EFL:
“Southampton Football Club has today been charged with a breach of EFL Regulations, and the matter will be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission.
“This follows a request from the EFL for the club’s observations after a complaint from Middlesbrough relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property ahead of the two clubs meeting in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off semi-final first leg.
“Under EFL Regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges. However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the Independent Disciplinary Commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity.”
Championship play-off schedule
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Play-off semi-final first legs
Hull 0 Millwall 0
Middlesbrough vs Southampton - Saturday May 9, 12.30pm
Play-off semi-final second legs
Millwall vs Hull - Monday May 11, 8pm
Southampton vs Middlesbrough - Tuesday May 12, 8pm
Play-off final
Saturday May 23, Wembley Stadium
FT stats
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Possession: Hull City 39%-61% Millwall
Shots: 6-15
Shots on target: 1-2
Corners: 0-5
Touches in opposition box: 11-22
The stats were in Millwall’s favour and they did probably edge that game. They may feel like the ones who could have taken a lead into the second leg, especially with a slightly dubious “goal” ruled out late on.
Full time
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The final whistle is blown and it ends goalless. The first 65 minutes of the game did not see many chances but the game opened up in the latter stages of the match. Both sides will head down south for the second leg at The Den on Monday, with all to play for as a place in the Championship play-offs final is up for grabs. Being the away side, Millwall are probably the slightly happier side after tonight.
90 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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There will be four added minutes. Still time for one of these sides to take a lead into the second leg on Monday.
88 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Change for Hull as Lundstram replaces Slater.
86 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall have the ball in the Hull net but the whistle has gone. Azeez’s cross from the left picks out Leonard on the edge of the six-yard box and the latter volleys home first time. However, the whistle has gone for a foul from Crama on Hughes. When you watch the replays back, it looked like both Crama and Hughes had hands on each other and Hull can probably count themselves a touch lucky there that the goal was not allowed to stand. There was a pull right at the end from Crama that was probably the reason why the whistle went but both players were tugging at each other. A reminder no VAR in use.
83 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Bannan has only been on the pitch for Millwall for about 10 minutes but is already pulling the strings. Should Alex Neil have started Bannan tonight?
81 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Change for Millwall as Doughty replaces Sturge.
80 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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As we enter the final 10 minutes of normal time in this first leg, the game is opening up and we have probably had more chances in the last 15 minutes than we did in the first 65.
79 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall should have done better with that chance. They attack from deep inside their own half and they end up with a four-on-three as Neghli takes the visitors forward through the Hull half. Neghli finds Cundle to his left and the latter should probably shoot. Instead he dithers before laying it back to Neghli, whose shot goes wide.
77 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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After a period where both sides appeared in danger of going into their shells, this match has really burst back into life. Credit to Hull City and Millwall. Their decision-making in the final third has still been poor but they can’t be faulted for effort, desire or, to be fair, quality in every other part of the pitch other than the final third.
75 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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That is a good save from Pandur. Azeez cuts inside from the right and curls an effort towards the far corner from the corner of the penalty area. The shot goes through a few bodies, making it hard for Pandur to see, and the Hull keeper does well to get down to his right to make the save and parry it away from danger.
74 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Alex Neil and Millwall are making their first changes of the game as Bannan and Cundle replace De Norre and Ballo.
Hull make their third alteration as Dowell comes on for Gelhardt.
70 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Double change for Hull as Hirakawa and Joseph come on. Hirakawa is right into the thick of the action as his cross from the byline out on the left finds McBurnie but the striker’s header from just six yards out goes wide of the far post. McBurnie knows he should have done better with that chance.
69 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall hit the post! There have not been many chances to speak of but space opens up for Neghli in a central position around 25 yards out. The Millwall man decides to take on the shot and it comes off the outside of the post. Not far off the first goal of the night.
66 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Coburn is getting frustrated up top for Millwall. His hold-up play has been strong and he has linked up well with his teammates but they have not repaid the favour, not giving much service back.
It feels like both sides are in need of changes and we could be about to get some from the hosts.
60 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millar spurns a great chance for Hull but the offside flag has gone up anyway. McBurnie is out on the right and spots Millar in space in the middle. The cross is played in but, instead of shooting, he tries to lay it off. That is the wrong decision but he was offside anyway as the cross came in.
59 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Belloumi has gone to ground often tonight but very rarely been rewarded with a free-kick. The latest example sees him take on Sturge down Hull’s right and he appeared to potentially get the better of the battle on this occasion but goes to ground too easily and softly. Unsurprisingly, he does not get the free-kick and you feel like the referee is now less likely to give him a free-kick due to the ease with which he is going to ground.
58 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Azeez whips in a free-kick from the left right into a dangerous area on the edge of the six-yard box but none of his teammates are on hand to meet that delivery.
57 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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A first-leg lead is there for the taking for either side, it just comes down to which team wants it more. There has mostly been a lack of quality in the final third from both teams but just a bit more composure with the final pass, cross or shot will result in a goal.
55 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall’s possession percentage has been much higher than their average since the beginning of the season. Their challenge now is to start turning that into clear cut chances, like the one Lewie Coyle has just flashed over the bar for City.
53 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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The referee has allowed plenty to go tonight but not on this occasion. Millwall’s De Norre brings Crooks down cynically as he was moving through the Millwall half and is booked for that foul. The free-kick though is wasted by Giles as it is headed away with ease.
51 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Hull captain Coyle is urged to shoot from range by the home fans and he obliges. He strikes it well but the shot is always rising and goes over Patterson’s bar.
Second half
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We are back under way at MKM Stadium. No changes from either side at the break.
Visitors slightly happier?
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All square at the break. City have created the better chances but Millwall’s threat began to grow during the closing stages of the first-half and, dare I say it, Alex Neil will be the happier of the two managers during the interval.
HT stats
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Possession: Hull City 40%-60% Millwall
Shots: 4-8
Shots on target: 1-0
Corners: 0-4
Touches in opposition box: 7-14
Half-time
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The first half is brought to an end and it remains goalless at the MKM Stadium.
45 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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One added minute at the end of this first half.
44 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Encouragingly for Millwall, but worryingly for City, Josh Coburn’s influence in this game is beginning to grow. The Millwall attacker has just combined well with Thierno Ballo, who sees a shot deflected away to safety. Down on the touchline, Alex Neil nods his head in appreciation.
40 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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It was a cracking atmosphere at the MKM Stadium at kick-off but it is a little subdued from the home fans as we approach half-time. Hull will want to take advantage of this home leg but you would probably say Millwall have edged this first half.
36 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall have had plenty of possession, just over 60% to be exact, but have not done a huge amount with that possession. They need to show more composure in the final third with their decision making.
32 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Things are beginning to settle down a little here and the Millwall fans, massed in one corner of the MKM Stadium, are now in full voice. The visitors are edging their way into the contest much more but, as Oli McBurnie showed when he was inches away from turning home Ryan Giles’ cross, City continue to carry the greater threat. But will they live to regret these missed opportunities?
29 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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The referee has allowed the game to flow and breathe, allowing plenty of physical contact. The key though is he needs to stay consistent with that for the whole game.
25 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Ball sends in a cross from the left and picks out Azeez, around 12 yards out. However, Azeez gets his shot all wrong.
24 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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The long throws keep coming from Millwall in this first half but thus far they have been unable to carve out a genuine opportunity from any of them.
22 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall have a corner out on the left as Azeez’s shot takes a deflection off Giles and spins behind. Azeez will take the corner he won. The delivery is sent in but Hull head clear.
18 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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There are appeals for a Hull penalty inside the Millwall box but that is not a penalty. Hull win the ball back just inside their own half and counter at speed. McBurnie drives through the Millwall half before laying it across to his right to find Gelhardt. He moves into the Millwall box before cutting inside Crama but loses his footing at the wrong moment. Could Gelhardt have squared that?
16 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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That was a chance for McBurnie. Giles whips in a dangerous cross from the left and the striker should do better on the edge of the six-yard box but he cannot guide it towards goal. McBurnie finished joint-second in the top goalscorers in the Championship this season and he will be disappointed he did not at least guide that on target.
14 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall have taken a few shots on from range in recent minutes through Ballo and Azeez but neither of them vaguely threatened the Hull goal.
12 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall boss Alex Neil will be reasonably content with how his side have begun the away leg for them. Other than that Belloumi chance, Hull have not offered much going forward and Millwall have settled into the game. Millwall did win this fixture back in March 3-1 so will confidence from their last trip here.
7 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Hull have already been challenged by a number of Millwall long throws into their box but so far they have dealt with that threat.
2 mins: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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What a fantastic goal that would have been from Belloumi. With Hull’s first attack of the game, Belloumi drives down the left and moves into the Millwall box. He beats Leonard twice, cutting one way and then the other, before then beating Crama. His shot then comes off the outside of the post. Had that gone in, the crowd would have lost their minds.
Mohamed Belloumi summons his inner Messi to dribble his way past a clutch of Millwall defenders. But the Algerian gets his final shot all wrong and completely misses the target from close range. As good as his run was, that’s a big miss and huge let-off for Milwall.
1 min: Hull City 0 Millwall 0
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Millwall have a very early corner, right in front of their travelling fans out on the right. The inswinger is sent into a good area but McBurnie is on hand to head away.
Kick-off
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After a rendition of Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling In Love, we are under way at the MKM Stadium. Can Hull take advantage on home turf or can Millwall take a lead back home with them for the second leg on Monday?
Play-off fever has certainly gripped East Yorkshire. The noise at kick-off has just reached eleven and the stadium announcer will need a family sized bag of Strepsils after bellowing out the team line-ups.
Nearly ready for action
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Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at MKM Stadium. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
Hull: Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Giles, Slater, Crooks, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Millar, McBurnie.
Substitutes: Phillips, Lundstram, Ajayi, Hirakawa, Joseph, Gyabi, Dowell, Koumas, McNair.
Millwall: Patterson, Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge, Mazou-Sacko, De Norre, Azeez, Neghli, Ballo, Coburn.
Substitutes: Crocombe, McNamara, Mitchell, Ivanovic, Doughty, Langstaff, Watson, Cundle, Bannan.
Millwall’s Femi Azeez speaking to Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2026"You've just got to stay steady" 💪
Femi Azeez shares his thoughts ahead of the first-leg of Millwall's play-off semi-final vs Hull 🔊 pic.twitter.com/SBcoMSpt3p
The finer details
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Millwall are pulling-out all the stops to try and reach the play-off final at Wembley. No expense has been spared behind the scenes as Alex Neil and his players are flying back to London immediately after the match rather than making the journey by coach.
Hull boss Sergej Jakirović speaking to Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2026"The normal season is over, this is completely different" 😤
Sergej Jakirović says Hull City must be tactically wise in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Millwall 🧠 pic.twitter.com/zaNbZV69uY
Oli McBurnie interview: It’s funny, people meet me and say ‘I used to think you were a right...’
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Oli McBurnie has just revealed that many of the tattoos plastered across his body are based on his obsession with Japanese culture.
It is not the first thing you would expect a Leeds-born striker playing for Hull City to say during an interview. “I’m like an onion, keep peeling me back and you’ll find out the most random things,” McBurnie grins.
The 29-year-old striker’s career has taken him from Bradford to Swansea, Sheffield United and Gran Canaria before he arrived in Hull on a free transfer last summer. His 17 league goals, including two on a dramatic final day of the season, fired his team into the Championship play-offs for the first time in 10 years.
The form of the two sides coming into the play-offs
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Hull:
Norwich 2 Hull 1
Charlton 2 Hull 1
Leicester 2 Hull 2
Hull 1 Birmingham 1
Sheffield United 2 Hull 1
Millwall:
Millwall 2 Oxford 0
Leicester 1 Millwall 1
Stoke 1 Millwall 3
Millwall 2 QPR 0
West Brom 0 Millwall 0
Pre-match thoughts of Millwall boss Alex Neil
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2026"It's going to be and end-to-end game" 👀
Hear from Alex Neil ahead of Millwall's Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Hull City ⏳ pic.twitter.com/XmdcScblGr
Teams in full
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Hull: Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Giles, Slater, Crooks, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Millar, McBurnie.
Substitutes: Phillips, Lundstram, Ajayi, Hirakawa, Joseph, Gyabi, Dowell, Koumas, McNair.
Millwall: Patterson, Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge, Mazou-Sacko, De Norre, Azeez, Neghli, Ballo, Coburn.
Substitutes: Crocombe, McNamara, Mitchell, Ivanovic, Doughty, Langstaff, Watson, Cundle, Bannan.
Championship play-off schedule
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Play-off semi-final first legs
Hull vs Millwall - Friday May 8, 8pm
Middlesbrough vs Southampton - Saturday May 9, 12.30pm
Play-off semi-final second legs
Millwall vs Hull - Monday May 11, 8pm
Southampton vs Middlesbrough - Tuesday May 12, 8pm
Play-off final
Saturday May 23, Wembley Stadium
Fighting to get to the top flight
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It is play-off time in the Championship and the semi-finals kick off at the MKM Stadium as Hull City host Millwall. Hull finished sixth, forcing their way into the play-offs on the final day of the regular season. Millwall were right in the fight for automatic promotion until the final whistles on the final day, missing out on second place by just one point. 10 points separated these sides across 46 games but that now counts for nothing.
The omens would appear to be on Millwall’s side in this semi-final, with the team finishing third beating the side finishing sixth in 17 of the last 20 seasons. The last team to finish sixth and reach the final were Derby back in 2019, with the last side to be promoted being Blackpool in 2010. Both of the games between the sides this season ended in 3-1 wins for the away side, with Milwall winning the most recent meeting back in March in this stadium. However, that is the only time Hull have lost at home to Millwall in the last five games.
Hull have made the Championship play-offs twice before and on both those occasions they have secured promotion to the Premier League in 2007/08 and 2015/16. However, no team finishing sixth has not won the Championship play-offs since Blackpool in 2009/10.
“I think it will be easier to play because you have 180 minutes,” Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic said. “You have to be very wise. It will not decide anything, the first game. There are no away goals. It is who will handle the pressure better.
“No matter this result on Friday, Monday will be everything. We will try to hide our minuses. It’s not so easy because we know them, they know us. It depends who will be in the mood to play one-on-ones, to pass the players, to make successful crosses into the box, who will score their chances.”
Millwall have made the play-offs in the Championship or Second Division three times before but on all three occasions have not made the final. They had the best away record in the Championship this season, taking 41 points and losing just four games on the road.
“Play-off games are different because they are essentially knockout matches,” Millwall boss Alex Neil told Sky Sports. “We have got two legs to try and get the result we need. Our away form has been the best in the division, so we are hoping to get a positive result in the first leg and then bring it back to The Den. The key thing is making sure the occasion does not get the better of you, that will be crucial for both teams. I think the biggest difference is that we now play without fear. I only had half a season last year, but even then our away form in the second half of the campaign was pretty good.”
The second leg at The Den will then take place on Monday night. Team news from the MKM Stadium to follow shortly.