Hull City

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after his side beat Millwall 2-0 to reach the Championship play-off final:

"[It's a] great feeling, an amazing feeling. I'm very proud of the players, of the whole club, all people in the club, all the fans also - they were very loud today.

"Maybe this is the biggest achievement in my life and football career. I won some titles, I have had until now a successful career, but this, in these circumstances, to get to the final, I'm very proud of everyone here in the club.

"When the game started, I just told the players that we must have a strong start in the game, which I think we did. We were very good [for] around 20-25 minutes, and then one or two mistakes there, we didn't clear the ball and then they start to push.

"I think we were excellent today."

On the reasons for naming Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt on the bench: "Because of the condition of those players, and because when I watched the first leg I decided to put one extra centre-back, then we have good height for set pieces, and also we have a good balance because they're coming with two full-backs very high.

"We were fantastic today and also we were very patient, we knew our time would come."

Image source, Opta

Millwall and Hull City's promotion destiny will be decided when they meet at The Den in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Monday (20:00 BST).

The sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg at the MKM Stadium on Friday night and extra-time and penalties may be needed to determine which side progresses to the final at Wembley on 23 May to face either Southampton or Middlesbrough.

• Hull City have won on each of their past two trips to Millwall, both coming in the Championship in January 2025 (1-0) and December this season (3-1); it's as wins as in their previous 27 visits (D10 L15).

• Millwall have won four of their previous six home games (L2), keeping a clean sheet in all four victories, while they recorded more shutouts than any other side in the home Championship games in the regular season (11).

• Hull won just one of their final seven away league games to finish the Championship season (D2 L4), suffering as many away defeats in that run as in their first 16 away league matches of 2025-26 (W9 D3).

• Hull are aiming to become the first sixth-placed side to reach the Championship play-off final since Derby County in 2018-19, with each of the six seasons since seeing the side that finished third in the regular season at least reach the final.

• Millwall are aiming to reach the Championship play-off final for the very first time, and first play-off final of any sort since winning the League One final in 2017; Hull are looking to reach their third Championship play-off final, having won in both 2008 and 2016.

• In 2026, 11 of Millwall's 18 home goals in the Championship came via set pieces (5x free kick, 4x throw, 2x corner), with three of their first six shots in the first leg coming from throw-ins.

• Millwall's Jake Cooper created more chances than any other player in the first leg (3), as well as winning three of his four aerial duels; during the regular season only Bristol City's Rob Atkinson (74.6%) had a better aerial duel success rate than his 73.6% (271/368).

• Hull's Kyle Joseph was involved in three of their four goals against Millwall during the regular season (2 goals, 1 assist); he only has more goal involvements in the Football League against Burton Albion (4 goals).

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic on his side's 0-0 draw with Millwall in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final:

"It was very tough, a fight for every ball and every challenge.

"Maybe we had the best chance in the game through Mo Belloumi, and after [that] they were very dangerous from set-pieces and long throw-ins, but I think we handled this.

"It's a fair result. Like I said, nothing will be decided tonight.

"We made a correction at half-time to get closer to them and press like a group."

[On the disallowed goal] "It's a clear foul. I saw that immediately. If you take with the two hands and spin the player around it is a foul."

There is a little more than just a potential promotion to the Premier League at stake for Hull City striker Kyle Joseph when the Tigers take on Millwall in the Championship play-off semi-final.

The 24-year-old also has some family bragging rights on the line because his dad is an avid Lions fan.

"We used to watch play-off games Millwall were involved in, when they played Leeds in the play-offs in League One," Joseph told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I think for him, it'll be a big pinch me moment seeing his son in the play-offs against his team that he's watched for years and years. It's a funny moment."

Joseph joked that his dad is "talking to me this week" and despite his split allegiances, is fully backing his son.

"He sends me the occasional Millwall post, but he's really supportive. He's always put my best interests at heart first over his own," Joseph added.

"He's been massive for me, my dad, then my mum. And with family in general, after the tough season I had last year, they've really got around me and really helped me and really pushed me on to have a good season this year.

"It's crazy, but we're both excited for it. He's looking forward to it. And I think it'll be a proud moment for him to see me on the pitch."

The first leg between Hull City and Millwall kicks off at 20:00 BST at the MKM Stadium on Friday, 8 May with commentary on BBC Local Radio and live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app.

Mike White
Sports editor, BBC Radio Humberside

Image source, Shutterstock

Hull City would not have been many people's pick, if any at all, to be in the play-offs this season amid a pre-season of financial concerns, transfer sanctions and another new manager, unproven in the English game.

Now they are, maybe they will be written off again as the least fancied of the four teams, but do so at your peril given the spirit and never-quit attitude Sergej Jakirovic and his battling Tigers have displayed.

With the likes of leading scorer Oli McBurnie, Matt Crooks, Charlie Hughes, Hull-born captain Lewie Coyle and the rest of that squad all seemingly prepared to run through brick walls for each other, do not rule out the prospect of this team upsetting all the odds.

Yes, it could all come to an end across two legs with Millwall and make these words look a little foolish.

But I do not see them going down without a fight.

These two meet in the play-offs having shared the spoils across the season with each recording 3-1 away wins.

Hull City secured their play-off place on the final day of the season by coming from behind to beat Norwich City while Millwall confirmed third spot with a 2-0 victory over Oxford United.

The first leg of this tie is on Friday (20:00 BST) with the return in south London Monday, 11 May (20:00 BST).

• Hull have lost just one of their past five home games against Millwall (W3 D1), though it was a 3-1 defeat in March in this season's Championship campaign.

• Following that victory in March, Millwall are looking to win consecutive meetings with Hull in all competitions for the first time since April 2011.

• This is Hull's third appearance in the Championship play-offs, winning promotion to the Premier League on both previous occasions (2007-08 and 2015-16). However, the team finishing sixth has not won the Championship play-offs since 2009-10 (Blackpool).

• Millwall have reached the final in each of their past four Football League play-off appearances, with all of these coming in League One (2008-09, 2009-10, 2015-16, 2016-17). However, they have gone out in the semi-finals in all three of their second tier play-off campaigns (1990-91, 1993-94, 2001-02).

• Hull have won the first leg of their semi-final tie in all three of their previous appearances in the Football League play-offs, keeping a clean sheet each time.

• Millwall have not lost the first leg in any of their last six play-off semi-final ties (W2 D4), since a 2-0 loss at Derby in 1993-94.

"I had them to really, really struggle.

"Wasn't sure about the manager not knowing the league but where they have really caveated that is by getting those players who have got experience at the level - they are just a really fun watch.

"They are going to be a real handful for anyone they come up against. You just wouldn't write them off."

The 72+ team reflect on what's gone right at Hull City this season under Sergej Jakirovic to earn them a place in the play-offs.

Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds