Hull vs Millwall – Championship play-off semi-final preview: ‘Sixth vs third… but this is NOT a predictable tie’ | Football News

It is sixth versus third in the first of our Championship play-off semi-finals, but it feels like a much closer battle than usual between Hull and Millwall.

Hull may have only forced their way back into the play-offs on the final day, while Millwall still had a shout for automatic promotion as they eventually finished third, but for most of the season these two were going toe to toe in and around the top six. The Tigers were above the Lions as recently as February.

And both sides have beaten the other on the road this season. Hull won at The Den in December, while Millwall prevailed at the MKM in March.

It is set to be a fascinating tie…

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‘It is sixth vs third, but it’s not a predictable tie’

Don Goodman on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:

“The gap isn’t as big as usual in terms of points, but also in terms of what these two teams are capable of when they are operating close to their best.

“Hull can score goals against anybody, they have a wonderful blend in attack with the players they have, and they will craft out chances.

“It is sixth versus third, but I don’t think we’ve got a predictable tie.

“But flip it on its head and they also concede a lot of chances and a lot of goals. That could be the differential between these two over two legs. Millwall are just a much more solid outfit without the ball.

“I think Millwall are going to be a force in these play-offs. I would just about back them to come through this tie, but I don’t anticipate that it’s going to be straightforward.”

Andy Hinchcliffe on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast:

“For Millwall to finish third is pretty incredible. To be as consistent as they have in this league is extraordinary.

“Hull have overachieved. Their underlying stats tell you they should be down in the bottom five or six. But they are challenging for promotion.

“Millwall being at home in the second leg is an advantage. They go into the tie in better form, but Hull have the ability to win games you don’t expect them to win. That’s why they are here.

“Millwall are set up to be defensively solid. They’re not going to give much away, but they do have individuals. Hull have more individuals that can change the course of the game. They don’t necessarily have to play well to win games.

“Millwall might be the better unit, but Hull have players that can hurt you. There are Hull players that can score goals in different ways. Lots of width, different threats. Millwall will be wary of that.

“With Hull’s unpredictability I wouldn’t be surprised if they got through. But over the course of two games, Millwall should have enough to make it to Wembley.”

The key battle & the wildcard

Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:

Were it not for the injury that kept him out for several weeks at the back end of 2025, Oli McBurnie would have been in the running for Championship Player of the Season.

The 29-year-old returned to the EFL with a bang after a year in Spain, scoring 17 times and providing seven assists in just 32 starts for Hull. His two goals on the final day steered them into the play-offs.

He has also won the sixth most aerial duels in the Championship this season (148) and his tussle with Millwall defender Jake Cooper could prove key to who prevails in this tie.

Cooper is a Lions legend, he has been at the club since 2017 and was an unused sub when they won the League One play-off final at Wembley that year.

He has the second most aerial duels won this year in the league (271), and also has the sixth most clearances and fourth most headed clearances.

McBurnie scored as Hull won 3-1 at Millwall in December, while Cooper scored when Millwall were victorious by the same scoreline at Hull in March.

Away from that, there is also Femi Azeez. The Millwall winger has been one of the stars of the division. He was nominated for EFL Championship Player of the Season and named in the Sky Sports Championship Team of the Season.

He has provided the spark in attack so often for the Lions this season, and could be crucial here again.

Jakirovic: Play-offs are a completely different approach

Sergej Jakirovic will be aiming to use his previous play-off experience to take into the tie with Millwall.

The 49-year-old has previously managed Dinamo Zagreb in a two-legged affair to try and get them into the Champions League in 2024, beating Qarabag to reach the group stage.

“It’s a completely different approach,” Jakirovic said. “In the last round [of games of the season] you must win and still you might not be in the top six.

“I think it will be easier to play because you have 180 minutes. I have experience from Dinamo [Zagreb] when we had a play-off to reach the Champions League.

“You have to be very wise. It will not decide anything, the first game. There are no away goals. It’s 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.”

Lewie Coyle: It would be beyond my wildest dreams to captain Hull to the Premier League

Hull have twice been promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs; in 2007/08 – thanks to that Dean Windass goal – and in 2015/16 under Steve Bruce.

On both occasions, Lewie Coyle watched his hometown club triumph from across the way in Leeds, where he was on the books from 2004 to 2020.

Now, though, the defender is the Tigers’ club captain. And after they pipped Wrexham and Derby to the final play-off place on the last day of the regular season, he has a dream at the forefront of his mind.

“I was a young boy – I call it ‘the golden era’, when Hull had that first success at Wembley. That’s the stuff I dreamed of being able to do as a player myself,” he says.

“I look back with fond memories. It’s great for the city, it’s great for everyone involved at the club and it’s now time for me to put my stamp on things and really try and make it happen.”

This comes just a year after Hull avoided relegation to League One on goal difference alone.

The 30-year-old knows more than most what it would mean to reach the top flight.

“It means everything to be club captain,” he added. “It’s something I’m very, very proud of. I don’t take it for granted. I know that a football career is very short and this will all be over someday.

“To be able to proudly say I’m the club captain of my hometown club, it would just make it that bit sweeter if we go on and achieve that ultimate dream of getting this club back to the Premier League.

“In a nutshell, that would do for me. It would be beyond my wildest dreams, and if I can keep a little promise I made to someone a long time ago, it would make me very, very happy.”

Alex Neil: We have no fear going into the play-offs

Millwall boss Alex Neil says his side will lean on their impressive away record and approach the first leg with no fear at Hull.

“Play-off games are different because they’re essentially knockout matches,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve got two legs to try and get the result we need.

“Our away form has been the best in the division, so we’re 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 doesn’t 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.

“This year we’ve had a full season playing that way. Whether we’re home or away, we approach games the same way. There’s no major change in style depending on the venue, and that consistency has helped us pick up some brilliant away results.

“We’ve managed that well throughout the end of the season. When you’re in a strong position, naturally there’s more expectation and scrutiny on both the team and myself. But I think we’ve handled that better and better as the season has gone on.

“We’ve had big away games at Middlesbrough and Ipswich and handled them brilliantly. We then had games we absolutely needed to win, like QPR and Stoke.

“Leicester was probably the one disappointment towards the end of the season, but then we still had a job to do against Oxford and we managed that too. From our perspective, we’ve got nothing to lose. It’s about attacking every game and giving our best, just as we’ve done all season.”

Crama: We’re going to get there to attack

Millwall defender Tristan Crama insists they are going to the MKM Stadium to win the first leg.

“We know it’s two games, but we’re just focusing on Friday first,” he told Sky Sports. “We had such a good record away this season, so we’re going there to attack the game and win it. Obviously, it will only be halfway through it, but I’m not going to think about Monday first. I just think about Friday.

“We’re just going to go there to attack and win it. We’re not going there to try and hold a score. We did that all season, and we got the best away record. I’m going there to win the game.

“Every game is different, but [winning 3-1 at Hull in March] just means you go in there and you know you can beat them because you already did it.

“It’s different now because it’s the play-offs, so I guess the atmosphere at the stadium will be different as well. I’m looking forward to it.

“The mentality in the squad is amazing. We’re not getting too low, we’re not getting too high, so we still have the same mindset that we’re going to attack the game like we attacked the previous 46 games.”

Championship play-off schedule

Play-off semi-final first legs

• Hull vs Millwall – Friday May 8, kick-off 8pm
• Middlesbrough vs Southampton – Saturday May 9, kick-off 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