HULL, England, May 8, 2026, 23:13 (BST)
Hull City and Millwall are stuck level after Friday’s 0-0 at the MKM Stadium, the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final. Millwall thought they’d snatched it late, but Ryan Leonard’s strike didn’t stand—referee flagged a foul in the lead-up. So, everything rides on Monday’s second leg at The Den.
This result ratchets up the stakes: whoever claims the next game earns a trip to Wembley and a crack at the last Premier League promotion spot. Southampton faces Middlesbrough in the other semi-final, and the Championship Play-Off Final is set for May 23 at Wembley Stadium.
Millwall could argue they deserved better against Hull. Alex Neil’s squad controlled 61.5% of possession, per ESPN data, and outshot Hull 15 to 6, with a 5–0 edge in corners. Only two shots hit the target, though, before the 24,623 on hand.
Inside the opening couple of minutes, Mohamed Belloumi broke in from the left and clipped the outside of the near post—Hull’s first real warning. That quick burst of quality hinted at a livelier contest, but things soon tightened up.
Afterwards, things tightened up. Millwall’s Camiel Neghli fired a low shot close to the post from range; Femi Azeez tested Ivor Pandur, who had to react sharply. Hull kept pushing—Oli McBurnie stretched for Yu Hirakawa’s second-half cross, but couldn’t connect enough for a finish.
Everything hinged on a late decision. Leonard found the net for Millwall in the dying minutes, only for referee Gavin Ward to blow for a foul—Tristan Crama on Charlie Hughes—wiping out the goal and leaving Millwall fuming. With that, the aggregate score across both legs remained locked at 0-0.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Neil said Millwall had been the “better side.” Still, he admitted he’d have taken a single home opportunity for the playoff final at the start of the season. On the disallowed goal, Neil described the call as “really soft,” per the Guardian. The Guardian
Sergej Jakirovic, Hull’s manager, had a different take. He described the draw as a “fair result,” telling BBC Sport the chalked-off goal was a “clear foul.” BBC
The outcome lined up with what Sky Sports analyst Don Goodman forecasted before kickoff, calling this “not a predictable tie,” even though it was third versus sixth. Goodman highlighted Millwall’s defensive organization but flagged Hull’s ability to shift the momentum fast with their attack. Sky Sports
Still, the danger for Millwall stands out. Despite controlling possession, pushing into Hull’s half, and pushing late for a breakthrough, they couldn’t get in front; Hull, remember, already pulled off a win at The Den earlier this season. Should Hull grab an away goal on Monday, it’s enough to shift the mood among home fans counting on Neil’s side to see this through.
The EFL has charged Southampton with allegedly filming Middlesbrough’s training without permission ahead of Saturday’s first leg, putting fresh focus on their semi-final matchup. Reuters says the league is pushing for a swift resolution, citing the tight playoff schedule.
Hull and Millwall are dealing with a more straightforward scenario here. Monday, May 11, brings the second leg at The Den, and that’s where the ticket to Wembley will be punched. As for the first meeting in Hull—no real advantage was gained. The tie is wide open.
