Playoff History and Memories
Hull City have positive memories of the playoff process, having succeeded twice before with memorable goals in the finals. In 2008, Dean Windass secured victory against Bristol City with a long-range strike, while Mohamed Diamé scored a curling shot to defeat Sheffield Wednesday in 2016. (As a side note, does anyone know the whereabouts of the person who wrote the MBM for the 2008 final?)
Middlesbrough won the second-ever playoffs in 1988, overcoming Chelsea in a two-legged final, an event that turned Stamford Bridge into a chaotic scene. However, since then, their playoff fortunes have been limited, with semi-final defeats in 1991, 2018, and 2023, and a final loss to Norwich City in 2015.
Team Changes and Lineups
Hull City make one change to their starting eleven from the semi-final second-leg victory at Millwall. Due to Kyle Joseph's injury, Mohamed Belloumi is included in the lineup.
Middlesbrough also make a single change following their challenging match at Southampton. Alan Browne replaces the injured Tommy Conway. Hayden Hackney is named on the bench, aiming to make his first appearance since sustaining a calf injury in March.
Hull City: Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Ajayi, Hughes, Giles, Slater, Crooks, Belloumi, Millar, McBurnie.
Subs: Phillips, Lundstram, Hirakawa, Drameh, Hadziahmetovic, Gelhardt, Dowell, Koumas, McNair.
Middlesbrough: Brynn, Brittain, Targett, Fry, McGree, Whittaker, Ayling, Strelec, Browne, Morris, Malanda.
Subs: Wildsmith, Hackney, Gilbert, Silvera, Castledine, Edmundson, Hansen, Ibeh, Sarmiento.
Legal Action Threat from Hull Owner
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has announced on BBC Radio Humberside his intention to pursue legal action if the team fails to secure promotion this afternoon. His comments are as follows:
"Our legal team says that we have to go for action, that’s for sure … so we have no doubt about it … all we want is justice … if justice is broken, nobody will enjoy football."
"If this action was so big that a team is out of the play-offs, why didn’t they let them not play the semi-final, investigate and take Southampton out and put Wrexham in?"
"Why is Wrexham out now? Put Wrexham in and continue the competition. For me, an eliminated team put back - also our lawyers say this and that’s their opinion too - is an incredibly wrong decision."
"Now I can talk a little more because now the boys are in the stadium and they will not hear me … I didn’t want to make their focus disturbed."
"Decisions are discussable from what I understand from our lawyers, very discussable … but of course we have to focus on the game and the boys are tough enough to overcome these difficulties."
Context and Match Preview
In an alternate scenario, this match might have featured Millwall and Southampton, the two in-form teams during the Championship run-in, having won five and eight of their last ten matches respectively, while Hull and Middlesbrough managed only three each. However, Millwall underperformed in the playoff semi-finals, and Southampton’s situation was complicated.
Ultimately, the final is contested between sixth-placed Hull City and fifth-placed Middlesbrough for a spot in next season’s Premier League. Both teams have demonstrated their merit to reach Wembley. Middlesbrough appeared poised for automatic promotion for much of the season but finished five points short after a late-season dip. Hull, having narrowly avoided relegation to League One last year, have made a strong turnaround and timed their form well.
During the season, Middlesbrough defeated Hull 4-1 at home in early December, while Hull secured a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough later that month. This makes confident predictions for today’s match challenging. May the best team on the pitch prevail, and any legal representatives considering action on behalf of the losing side are politely asked to refrain. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30pm BST. The match is underway!
