Hull City

Will momentum play a key role in deciding which teams meet at Wembley in the Championship play-off final on Saturday, 23 May?

Southampton enter the play-offs in the strongest form, unbeaten in the league since 17 January and accumulating 14 points across their past six games.

Millwall ended their regular season one point shy of the automatic promotion places and have earned 11 points in six games, while Middlesbrough have picked up nine and Hull City just six.

"I feel that momentum, wherever you finish – whether it's third, fourth, fifth or sixth – coming into it in a real feel-good factor is really important," Jobi McAnuff told the More Than the Score podcast.

"You look at Millwall or Saints this year and they are definitely the two coming into it with that – and of course they are third and fourth. I think if you are fans of those clubs, it's two factors there that are in your favour."

The play-off semi-finals begin on Friday with Hull City hosting Millwall (20:00 BST).

The Tigers secured their spot on the final day with a 2-1 win over Norwich City, but McAnuff is leaning towards the Lions to progress.

"I do favour Millwall to get through – their away form has been absolutely brilliant this season," he added.

"They are going to be a real hard nut to crack, very solid defensively, very organised, so for the semis I think that suits them well.

"It's a club that has been around the play-offs more often than not in the last few years and not quite able to get there."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has claimed it "would have been a real shame" if the Tigers had failed to get into the play-offs.

The 29-year-old scored both goals during the side's 2-1 victory over Norwich City to end a miserable run of six winless games (D4 L2) and set up a play-off semi-final against Millwall.

Wrexham also failed to win their game against Middlesbrough, which allowed the Tigers to enter the sixth spot, but McBurnie denies that good fortune has anything to do with the club's success this season.

"After the year on the whole, it would have been a real shame if we didn't make it," the former Scotland international told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We've put ourselves in this position. No-one has put us there, it's not been luck. It's been real hard work from the boys, grind.

"We found something. We had to find it. We did it, we just wanted to make it more exciting for the fans, that's why we've been terrible for the last six weeks!"

Hull host the Lions on Friday for their first semi-final leg before a trip to the Den on Monday (both 20:00 BST).

Alex Neil's Millwall were denied a place in the top two by just one point - but McBurnie isn't afraid of a big game.

"I didn't want to come [back to England] for a team that was happy being mediocre," McBurnie added.

"Me and [Joel Ndala] had a little text message last night and I said to him 'these are the days you live for, these are the days big players turn up' and that's what we've done."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic hailed the Tigers' Championship play-off success as "mission complete".

Hull came from behind to beat Norwich City 2-1 at the MKM Stadium thanks to two goals from Oli McBurnie to finish sixth and Jakirovic was full of praise for his players.

Jakirovic, who had to watch from the stands because of a touchline ban, told BBC Radio Humberside: "It's a great feeling, especially after 90 or 96 minutes.

"We saw Wrexham didn't beat Middlesbrough and it was enough to win 2-1.

"It is emotional for us because we have achieved something our chairman has dreamt about. For the lads as well, I'm very proud of them because they have shown a great mentality.

"In my life I've been out of the comfort zone, I don't like being in the comfort zone. You have to chase your dreams, your ambitions when you want to be successful.

"It was not easy to play this game as we needed a win and for example, after 10 or 15 minutes we were eighth in the table.

"But OK, this is football, everything is possible and we gave everything to win this game. Mission complete!"

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City's Regan Slater has rejected fans' claims that the Tigers' play-off push has run out of steam.

Hull have slipped out of the top six on goal difference to Wrexham on the back of a six-game winless run to leave supporters fearing they will miss out – just like they did in 2024.

Midfielder Slater dismissed their concerns and says the players are just focused on beating Norwich City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

"No, I wouldn't agree with that at all," the midfielder told BBC Radio Humberside. "I think everyone's going to have dips in form, but as long as we bounce back on Saturday, that's all that matters.

"It's pretty much all or nothing really. If we don't win on Saturday, the season's done and that's not something we want at all.

"We obviously just need the fans to get right behind us, regardless of what happens. It's not done until that final whistle goes."

Slater, 26, says the players will rely on the coaching staff to keep them informed of events at Wrexham.

"Goal difference could be massive," he said.

"It's important we know what we need to know. It could be a case of needing one more goal or whatever."

This could potentially have been a play-off qualifying shootout but, as it is, only Hull City have something viable to go for on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Tigers must better Wrexham's result against Middlesbrough to take the final top-six place on offer.

• After winning 2-0 in November, Hull could complete their first league double over Norwich since 1970-71.

• Norwich have only won one of their past eight league trips to Hull (D3 L4), although are unbeaten in their past two (W1 D1).

• Hull have only managed to win their final league game in one of the past 21 seasons (D9 L11), a 5-1 victory over Rotherham United in 2015-16.

• After beating Cardiff 4-2 last season, Norwich could win their final league match of back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-12/2012-13 in the Premier League.

• Since Philippe Clement took charge of Norwich for the first time on 22 November, only three teams have picked up more points in the Championship than the Canaries (56).

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside after his side's 2-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic:

"We didn't score more goals than Charlton, it's very simple. First half we did not play good, I was not satisfied with our performance because we didn't do anything really, very, very slow.

"We equalised through Egan, which is perfect for us and how we played. And in the second half I think we played much better, with Mo Belloumi's substitution, with some changes to the side on the pitch, and we had a few very good opportunities to score the second goal.

"We have to score a goal at this moment. Unfortunately we didn't and we conceded the second goal, which is unacceptable.

"That guy take [sic] the ball, through the pitch without any contact from three of our players. In this league, you must make a tactical foul.

"We tried everything, I don't know how many times we entered their box."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic wants Daniel Craig to play him - if the film of the Championship play-off run-in is ever made.

The Tigers go into the final two matches of the regular season level on points with sixth-placed Wrexham but with a two-goal deficit to make up.

Jakirovic says the race to make the Premier League is sufficiently dramatic and has enough plot twists to make the big screen.

After being asked to sift through potential actors who might depict him should that scenario come to pass - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, yes, Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, no - he was happy to settle on Craig for the role.

"I like Daniel Craig. He is my favourite James Bond. Him and Piers Brosnan. I have watched every James Bond movie so I know everything," he revealed to BBC Radio Humberside.

After Hull City fell out of the Championship play-off places for the first time since December following the 2-2 draw at Leicester, we asked what Tigers fans made of their promotion chances with just two games remaining.

Here are some of your responses:

Will: Nerves seem the base of our problems. We have completely lost our identity, resorting to long balls and relying on individual brilliance. This, plus our squad being all over the place with injuries doesn't help. Going back to basics and what worked at the start would help us.

Gary: The Tigers have blown it, some great results against the top teams in the division but dropping 30 points against the bottom-half teams has cost them dear.

Dan: It's been a great season regardless if we get play-offs or not. One of the favourites to go down and with a transfer ban were we couldn't spend money to sign players, never expected to get anywhere near play-offs, never mind fighting to be in them. Sergej and the players have done an amazing job!

Thomas: We will either batter Charlton and Norwich or it'll be typical City and lose out on goal difference.

Neil: Hull have a better run-in than Wrexham and we will win through to the play-offs. Hull doesn't like it easy and perform best when backs to the wall. Supporting from Perth, Western Australia.

Michael: True to form or lack of it, the toothless Tigers will not be in the play-offs.

Owen: The Tigers are still in the race; Wrexham have two difficult opponents. I have faith that we can overcome Charlton and Norwich and surpass Wrexham's goal difference.

Robert: I think Hull City will be placed sixth in the Championship, however they will not get to the play-off final. A lot of Hull City fans would have been happy if they finished half way up the Championship. Just hope we can keep the manager.

Charlton Athletic seek safety as they host Hull City on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Addicks are just one point away from saving themselves from relegation and condemning Oxford United to League One.

But Hull City, only outside the final play-off spot on goal difference, can leapfrog rivals Wrexham into sixth place, with the Red Dragons set to play title winners Coventry City on Sunday.

• Charlton are unbeaten in their last six home league meetings with Hull City (D3 L3) since a 1-2 reverse in November 1985.

• Hull have won three of their last four away league games against London clubs (L1), as many as their previous 16 in the capital beforehand (W3 D7 L6).

• Charlton have won their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (D2) since a 0-3 defeat to Burnley in 2015-16.

• Hull haven't won their final away league game in any of the last 18 seasons (D6 L12) since a 1-0 victory at Cardiff in 2006-07.

• Hull have earned 35 away points in the Championship this season; a win here will make this the most points they have ever earned on the road in a second tier campaign (38, assuming 3 pts/win all-time), a record they set in 2023-24 (37).

How are you feeling Tigers fans?

For the first time since early December you are on the outside looking in at the play-off places.

The draw at Leicester was a fifth game without a win and, combined with Wrexham's win at Oxford on Tuesday night, has Hull City in seventh, behind the Red Dragons by virtue of their two-goal advantage in goal difference.

Sergej Jakirovic's men can return to the top-six with a point at Charlton on Saturday (12:30 BST) with Wrexham not in action until Sunday (12:00 BST) when they visit champions Coventry, but three points feels like a must, with Derby not out of the equation in eighth place, albeit four points back.

Will it go down to the final day when Hull host Norwich and Wrexham welcome Middlesbrough to the Stok Cae Ras? Has this winless run already blown your chances?

Click here to have your say.

Hull City assistant head coach Dean Holden has compared his side's 2-2 draw against Leicester City to a basketball match after conceding their lead in the second half.

Tigers winger Liam Millar opened the scoring in the 18th minute but conceded after Jordan James converted from the spot.

"Disappointing thing for us is that we got ourselves into a leading position again. Four games out of five since the break and we've not been able to see it through," Holden told the BBC.

"The message at half-time was to try and get on the front foot. We knew they were going to come us and take even more risk.

"We concede the penalty, I've genuinely not seen it back so I can't really comment, but I believe it's a disappointing one.

"We were giving everything as were they. I'm sure it was an entertaining game because it was end-to-end, it was like a game of basketball at times but that became dangerous for us because they've got such good players in those one-on-one duels.

"Ultimately we've got to take the point as disappointing as it is and move forwards as quick as we can."

Listen to more from Holden on BBC Sounds

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Leicester City must win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation to League One when they host play-off chasing Hull City on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Foxes are eight points adrift of safety with three games remaining after a run of just one win in their past 17 matches (D7 L9).

Even victory will not be enough for Gary Rowett's side to stay up if Charlton Athletic avoid defeat and both West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers win in midweek.

The Tigers are sixth, two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham, and need a win to guarantee they keep their play-off hopes in their own hands, though Sergej Jakirovic's side have gone four games without victory (D3 L1).

• Leicester have lost just one of their past six home league games against Hull (W3 D2), though it was the last time they hosted them in September 2023 (0-1).

• Hull are looking to complete the league double over Leicester for the first time since 2007-08, when the Tigers were promoted to the top-flight for the first time.

• Only Sheffield Wednesday have collected fewer points at home in the Championship in 2026 than Leicester City (7 – W2 D1 L6); indeed, their six defeats in their past eight are as many as in their previous 28 home matches in the second tier (W17 D5).

• Hull have lost three of their past five away league games (W1 D1), as many as in their previous 14 matches on their travels (W9 D2).

• Hull's Oliver McBurnie has four goal involvements across his previous eight away league starts (2 goals, 2 assists), netting most recently at former side Sheffield United.