Ben Bloom was at Wembley. Here’s his report. Congratulations to Hull City, commiserations to Middlesbrough, and thank you, dear reader, for sticking with this MBM. Those Boro-Saints games next season are going to be tasty, huh?
Boro boss Kim Hellberg is interviewed by Sky Sports. “It is tough of course … but it is football … things will happen … it was not the best football game … it was a battle … up to the goal we had most of the chances but did not make the most of it … then you lose on a cross … it is what it is … tough of course … we are the team that drives the game forward … create the most chances … but they are clinical … top striker, top quality … if you don’t score it will be difficult … we have to get better, I have to get better, we will try to do that next year … we haven’t been good enough to get promoted … it’s small margins … I haven’t been good enough and that’s the truth … of course we’ve had injuries but every team has them … we have to congratulate Hull for getting promoted … we have to look at ourselves to get better … it’s been an emotional ride … disappointed and sad.”
Hellberg also admits that “it will be very difficult” to keep hold of Hayden Hackney. It’s been that sort of day for Boro.
Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı chats to Sky. “This is the best day of my life … in my career I managed many success … I started from zero in my business … we are one of the biggest producers of reality television in the world … but football is crazy … it is different psychology … the last five minutes, I couldn’t move … I wouldn’t be able to handle a last-minute goal … we are a beautiful team … I’m not the richest owner, but I am the craziest … it’s a good opportunity to show more to our fans because they deserve it … [the players] are heroes … all they want is love and to be taken care of … we already give them the highest bonus in the league … but for me, is it enough? … no … I would like to send you to Las Vegas with a plane and enjoy … let them enjoy their lives, it was a tough season!”
Updated
Oli McBurnie is asked about his omission from the Scotland World Cup squad, and tells Sky: “Football is a game of opinions … I felt I gave myself as good a chance as I could to get into the squad … that’s the manager’s decision and at the end of the day I have to respect that … some of them boys in that squad are my best friends in football … so I’ll be supporting them from [big smile begins to play across his face] a warm, sunny place with a beer, hoping they go as far as they can!”
Harry Maguire’s PR team can copy and paste that for free.
Hull boss Sergej Jakirović talks to Sky Sports. “It’s an amazing feeling … we did it … we suffered a lot all the game … they are very happy with the ball … they didn’t get great chances … we agreed that [Oli McBurnie] would score 15 goals [he’s scored 25 this season] … since my first meeting [with owner Acun Ilıcalı] we clicked … he wanted to take me immediately … 100 percent support … without his trust we cannot do anything … I think they already have a player list for the Premier League … they know what I need for our football style … our main aim is 4-3-3 … sometimes we adapt … we are on the same page … Monday is open bus!”
As for what his players imbibe during this evening’s celebrations: “I am not a police officer … if there is a problem on the pitch then it’s a problem … I don’t care about private life at all.”
Post-match postbag. “Finally! A result no-one can argue with. Congratulations Hull!” – Daniel King
“Well, that was a giggle. I was born in Hull in the winter of 1963 as my parents were snowed in there for a few weeks and couldn’t get home. I’ve never been back. So I’m naturally delighted” – Bob Kurac
“The 1985 DFB-Pokal final is not only an important moment in the history of Krefeld, but also represents the career peak of one of Iceland’s greatest footballers, Lárus Guðmundsson, who played for Bayer Uerdingen. I’m a fan of VfB since I was a boy thanks to another of Iceland’s greatest footballers, Ásgeir Sigurvinsson, who was the creative hub of the great Stuttgart side of the 80s. I’ve been trying to focus on other things today than the final, but a chance to get one over on Bayern is hard to keep out one’s mind” – Kári Tulinius
Poor Middlesbrough, who still haven’t won a game at Wembley. It’s now a six-visit run that stretches back to the 1990 Full Members’ Cup final, when they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea. They’ve since drawn 1-1 with Leicester in the 1997 League Cup final (going on to lose a replay at Hillsborough); lost the 1997 FA Cup final 2-0 to Chelsea; lost the 1998 League Cup final, again 2-0 to Chelsea; the 2015 play-off final, 2-0 to Norwich; and now this. Just the one goal scored in all that time, by Fabrizio Ravanelli against Leicester. Meanwhile it’s now three play-off final wins out of three for Hull.
A big smile on Lewie Coyle’s face now, as he traipses up the Wembley stairs, receives his medal, points to the sky, waves to his family, and eventually hoists the play-off trophy! Their goalscoring hero stands beside Coyle and hollers in delight. Their popular coach Sergej Jakirović arrives to wave the silverware about too. Acun Ilıcalı behind them hugging everyone in sight. Steve Gibson obviously not so cheerful, but he’s sportingly remained in situ to watch Hull pick up their prize and celebrate. Hull City are promoted to the Premier League!
Updated
Hull captain Lewie Coyle gives an emotional interview to Sky. “It’s tough … there’s just one man I want to celebrate with … he’s not with us … I look up to the sky in every game … I had a little look up there today … he’s with me … I don’t think there’s many people who thought I could captain a side to the Premier League … even saying it out loud seems a little bit wild … there’s certainly one man who would have believed in me and that’s my old man … he would have been saying ‘You can do it son, fuck ‘em!’ and I know I swore and I shouldn’t and I apologise but I had to get it in there because that was the way my old man spoke … he got us over the line today.”
At which point Oli McBurnie comes over to give his skipper a kiss. Given everything they’ve been put through this week, and on the pitch today, Hull will deserve their party tonight.
The match-winner Oli McBurnie talks to Sky Sports. “For the first time ever I think I’m speechless … it’s been a long hard season … that game today sums us up … we knew we weren’t going to have all of the ball … we’ve not won a game this season when we’ve had more of the ball than the opposition … so it was tough out there with the heat … Middlesbrough are a top, top team … we felt we’d have one chance … it was written for me to get it … I was knackered so I just tried to get a good contact … it’s popped up for me … I was looking forward to this game so much I couldn’t sleep … I’m just delighted … I can’t speak highly enough of the lads.”
Hull dance in delight! Oli McBurnie mobbed, the hero of the piece! In the posh seats, Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı holds his hands to his mouth, barely able to comprehend the moment. Eventually he goes over to his Boro counterpart Steve Gibson, who offers him congratulations with a warm smile and a hug. That’s a lovely sporting gesture. Meanwhile on the pitch, poor Sol Brynn is inconsolable. Hayden Hackney in tears as well. Could this be his last game for his boyhood club?
FULL TIME: Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough
Hull City are back in the Premier League!
Updated
90 min +14: … but it comes to nothing. And still we play on. Crooks looks to make sure with a shot from the edge of the box, but that’s blocked. No matter, though, because …
90 min +13: But it’s not! And Ayling is about to launch a hail Mary from distance …
90 min +12: A free kick for Boro in the centre circle. Brynn goes up, desperate for redemption. Brittain whacks it long. Too long. Goal kick. That should be that.
90 min +11: Ajayi deals with a couple of crosses, then the flag goes up for offside. Hull so close now!
90 min +10: Boro can’t get anything going. A close-up of poor Brynn, who utters a clear and unambiguous EFF word. Delight for Hull, who have come on strong in these final stages; such a shame it’s required a fall guy to decide the game. Let’s concentrate on Hirakawa’s wingplay and McBurnie’s poaching skills instead.
90 min +8: … while Hull replace Slater and Coyle with Lundstram and McNair.
90 min +7: Boro replace Targett and Browne with Ibeh and Sarmiento.
90 min +6: That was fine wingplay by Hirakawa, who has been a thorn in Boro’s side down this left flank since coming on. But it was dreadful handling by poor Brynn, who looks utterly bereft. McBurnie is booked for his celebration. Like he’ll care. Why isn’t he going to the World Cup with Scotland again?!
GOAL! Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough (McBurnie 90+5)
Hirakawa advances down the left again. He’s been a constant threat. He sends a low cross into the centre. Brynn gets down to meet it, but can only cushion the ball into the path of McBurnie, who lashes home from six yards! Wembley erupts! McBurnie takes off his shirt and races away! Brynn crumbles to the floor in despair.
Updated
90 min +4: Hughes is fine to continue.
90 min +3: Hughes gets the proper once-over.
90 min +2: Brittain and Hackney combine well down the right, a couple of back-and-forths up and down the channel, but can’t quite open Hull up. Ajayi batters the ball clear … and straight into his team-mate Hughes. On comes the physio.
90 min: Whittaker drifts in from the left and aims for the top-left corner, but slices his shot wildly out of play, miles wide left of the target. There will be eight additional minutes.
89 min: Some space for Morris, 30 yards out. He tries his luck but the shot slams into the nearest amber shirt, the nanosecond the ball leaves his boot.
87 min: Hughes and Hansen are lectured by the referee for some off-the-ball shoving. There’s no real aggression from either player, just petulance.
86 min: Hirakawa advances down the left and wedges a cross towards the far post. McBurnie’s not there. But Hull are beginning to get on top during these closing stages.
84 min: Hirakawa drives down the middle towards the Boro box. Morris arrives from nowhere to take the ball off him, just before the Hull sub can get close enough to shoot.
82 min: Coyle loops a cross in from the left. Targett looks to have it covered at the far post, but Gelhardt scuttles around him and, on the turn, hooks a shot across the face of goal and wide of the left-hand post. Brynn was beaten all ends up. That was fine opportunism from Gelhardt. Something out of next to nothing.
80 min: Hackney slips a pass down the inside-left channel to release Hansen into the box! Hansen opens his body and sidefoots goalwards, but it’s straight at Pandur, who nevertheless has to make a superb reaction save to divert the ball across the face of goal and inches wide of the right-hand post. Then the flag goes up, correctly, for offside.
79 min: Hackney drops deep and nearly releases Brittain with a probing diagonal pass. It’s cut out by Hughes, just in time.
77 min: Hull make a double change before the restart. Hirakawa and Drameh come on for Giles and Belloumi.
75 min: McGree can’t continue, though small mercies, at least he’s able to amble off without limping too much. Hansen takes his place.
74 min: The physio comes on. As McGree gets the once-over, it’s a chance for the players to take on more fluid.
73 min: McGree overstretches for a loose ball and goes down clutching the back of his left leg. He immediately looks over to the bench with a defeated grimace, before covering his eyes. The poor chap’s day looks over.
72 min: Targett crosses low from the left, but with Whittaker lurking, Egan hooks clear. “I’m with Daniel King, from the pre-match blog,” announces Jeremy Boyce, “in so much as Hull City should put up or shut up as regards legal action. They’ve got an unexpected chance at the biggest money-spinner they could imagine, claimed on the last day of the season, and they’re complaining, threatening legal action ? The trawlermen would be most aggrieved, they gave all and never questioned. Grow up, enjoy your day, play footie, may the better team team win.”
70 min: Hackney takes to the pitch for the first time since March. He’s warmly greeted as he replaces Strelec.
69 min: Drinks break!
67 min: McGree juggles himself into a spot of space, 30 yards out, and pings a pass wide right for Whittaker, who enters the box and attempts to jink past Giles. He can’t do it, and the ball clanks off him and out for a goal kick. Neat play by McGree, though, with that elegant spin.
65 min: The pace drops once again … though a roar goes up anyway, as the Boro fans spot Hackney getting stripped to come on.
63 min: Hull make the first change. Millar is replaced by Gelhardt.
62 min: Ajayi into a bit of space on the right. There are amber shirts in the middle, so it’s a bit of a disappointment when he larrups a wild cross miles over the bar.
61 min: Whittaker slips a ball down the middle for McGree, whose shot from the edge of the box is blocked. Hull counter, Belloumi cutting in from the right and taking a whack that flies straight at Brynn. Suddenly, a lot better from both sides.
Updated
59 min: Middlesbrough slip back into passive possession. There’s been no real rhythm to this match. No real story threatening to unfold.
57 min: Whittaker dribbles in from the right. He’s got space to advance into, but tries to buy a foul from Millar, challenging from behind. He goes over when touched, but the referee waves play on. Whittaker fumes, but it’s the correct decision. Maybe if he had his time again he’d be a bit more proactive there.
55 min: Middlesbrough ping a few passes down the right, a rare moment of quality in this match. The ball’s shuttled infield and Whittaker very nearly releases Strelec into the box. But Ajayi and Hughes crowd him out.
54 min: Hayden Hackney warms up on the touchline. Middlesbrough have been sorely lacking his quality. But when will he come on?
52 min: … and now Crooks meets a cross from the right but eyebrows it softly wide left. This is better from Hull, who did very little attacking in the first half.
51 min: Giles, out on the left touchline, nearly replicates Paul Konchesky’s fluke goal for West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final. An overhit cross that foxes the keeper. But with Brynn back-tracking in a panic, the ball sails high and wide of the top-right corner. But only just!
Updated
50 min: Shade is now covering half of the pitch. It’s the one Middlesbrough are defending, so their back line won’t mind that at all. Hull still peering into, and standing in, the sun.
Updated
48 min: One corner leads to another, and the second one, hit long from the right, is met by Fry at the far stick. Fry slams his header over the bar from six yards out. A huge chance. He had to hit the target at the very least.
Updated
47 min: Whittaker has a whack from the edge of the Hull D. The ball deflects wide right for a corner. That’s a good defensive block by Egan, because that was heading for the bottom right.
45 min 04 sec: Hull send the ball back to Pandur, whose attempted long kick upfield is charged down by Strelec. The ball bounces well wide right of the unguarded net, but that good fortune doesn’t stop the keeper giving his team-mates a wild rollocking.
Hull get the second half started. No changes.
More half-time entertainment. It’s the German cup final this evening. Bayern Munich are favourites against Stuttgart … but here’s a reminder that the favourites do not always win.
Half-time postbag. “Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı’s threatened legal action is perverse. His club finished 10 points adrift of their play-off semi-final opponents Millwall and seven behind both Middlesbrough and the sinning Saints. That Hull are in with a chance of promotion to the Premier League demonstrates the absurdity of the Championship play-offs, which often reward stragglers like Hull with the opportunity of knocking out clubs that have had a consistently better season. Money-spinners the play-offs may be but they demolish fairness, sporting integrity, and all notions of rewarding consistency. Ilicali doth protest too much; such arrant expedience makes an ugly saga even sorrier and more grotesque” – Darryl Accone
“Remember F1 a few years ago. There was the result on the track then the result days later after all the stewards enquiries and appeals. That’s when I stopped watching it. Yes have an enquiry, yes learn from it and change some rules if necessary, but the result on the day must be what matters. Fans spend loads to attend matches and celebrate (or not) at the end” – Richard Cowling
Half-time entertainment. A wee film from Wembley of Boro fans telling it as they see it.
HALF TIME: Hull City 0-0 Middlesbrough
Pressure and heat have not produced a gem. Not yet, anyway.
Updated
45 min +3: Belloumi flings a long throw in from the Hull right. Some head tennis. Brynn claims the ball and goes long, looking for Whittaker. He finds him, and Whittaker in turn finds Strelec, who drags a poor shot wide right from the edge of the box. As big a chance as Boro have had.
45 min +2: … and there goes the second.
45 min +1: The first of three additional minutes.
45 min: Crooks whips a cross in from the left. McBurnie, tussling with Malanda, wins a header, and the ball, intended for the top-right corner, pings off the top of the bar and out for a corner. Malanda might even have got a little flick on that himself. Hull so close!
Updated
43 min: McGree curls long from the left. Pandur, under pressure from the lurking Browne, slaps the ball away from the danger zone.
42 min: Belloumi shifts his feet, 25 yards out, and aims a whippy curler towards the top left. It’s inches wide. Not entirely sure Brynn was getting to that. It would have been a beauty, and very much out of keeping with the rest of this half.
41 min: Strelec, on the edge of the Hull D, tries to flick a shot towards the bottom right. It hits his own man Whittaker.
40 min: Boro get back to passing it around sideways, and slowly. Hull are happy enough to stay in their shape and let them do it.
38 min: Belloumi plays an incisive pass down the middle of the park, and suddenly Millar is racing clear after it! But Brynn has spotted the danger, racing miles from his box to bang clear. Some action, at long last.
37 min: Ayling curls a cross in from the right. Browne can’t get anywhere near it. Goal kick.
36 min: More Boro pass-and-probe. Hull sit there in their shape.
34 min: Boro continue to stroke the ball around, to no great effect. There’s nothing opening out for them up front.
32 min: Morris rolls a defence-splitter down the middle. The pass should release Strelec, but the striker takes a heavy touch and that allows Ajayi to nip in ahead of him, shield the ball, and draw a foul.
31 min: Both teams take turns to enjoy some sterile domination. Understandable given the heat, but the game nearly grinds to a halt as a result.
29 min: Browne chases after a long ball down the inside-right channel. Pandur gets to it first. If nothing else, that pounding run proves Browne’s foot is in good nick after that Crooks challenge.
27 min: The players have taken on water, and cooled their brows with wet towels. And now play begins again.
Updated
26 min: Drinks break!
25 min: … Giles receives the ball 25 yards out, leans back, and hoicks a dismal effort 25 yards over the bar and 25 yards wide right. No Dean Windass / Mohamed Diamé he.
24 min: … and up the other end, Brynn is forced into action as Millar crosses long from the left. Coyle aims a looping header towards the top right, and the Boro keeper is forced to tip over for a corner. From which …
23 min: Brittain blooters long down the inside-right channel. The ball drops in the path of Strelec. A better touch to bring it down and the striker’s in … but that doesn’t happen. Boro are asking all the questions, but Pandur hasn’t had a shot to save yet.
21 min: Whittaker wedges a pass down the left for McGree to chase. Ajayi gets in the way and takes control. McGree tries to steal the ball, but Ajayi holds him off regally, and eventually McGree, still striving, pokes the ball out for a goal kick. That was an entertaining physical tussle.
19 min: When the corner’s eventually taken, the ball’s worked right to left, and Browne dinks a cross into the centre. Strelec heads harmlessly over the bar.
17 min: Middlesbrough move up a gear or twi. They pin Hull back. Targett crosses from the left but can’t find Strelec in the middle. Morris then wins a corner out on the right. Boro do not rush to take it in the heat.
Updated
15 min: Morris wins the ball 30 yards out, and drags a weak shot wide left. He claims the first corner of the match, but the referee says there was no deflection.
14 min: Whittaker causes quite a bit of bother down the left, nearly one-twoing his way into the box. He looks lively.
13 min: Browne does indeed come back on. Another referee might have booked Crooks for that challenge, which wasn’t the best.
12 min: On comes the physio. Browne eventually gets up, tests his foot by putting some weight on it, and wanders to the touchline. He’ll be coming back on.
11 min: Browne and Crooks compete for a loose ball in the midfield. Browne gets there first. Crooks stands on his foot, with some force. It’s not even given as a foul. Play continues, for a while, but as Browne stays down, it’s eventually stopped. Browne is in some pain.
9 min: McBurnie plays a cute reverse pass down the left for Millar, who flies into the space that’s just been opened up. But his attempt to return the favour, and the ball, with a swipe of the outside of his boot, doesn’t come off. Both teams have shown some attacking intent during these early exchanges. The time for nerves comes later.
7 min: Targett creams a long pass down the left and nearly finds Whittaker on the edge of the Hull box. But Pandur has read the danger and comes to meet the ball. Sharp play all round.
5 min: Hughes skitters down the left touchline, a dangerous-looking run. He cuts back for Giles, who swings one into the mixer. McBurnie’s not there. Brynn claims.
3 min: McGree whips a cross in from the left. Pandur gets down to smother. This is a brisk start by Boro.
2 min: Middlesbrough are immediately on the front foot, Whittaker probing with a dribble right to left. Hull sit back. A pattern may have already been established: Boro are number one in the Championship possession stats, with Hull, who prefer to counter, down at 19th.
Updated
Middlesbrough, who have never won at Wembley, get the ball rolling. Meanwhile Richard Hirst writes: “Did not have any of the many dogs in this fight, but Hull’s lack of class in saying they will take legal action, rather than accepting that the EFL have done their best in difficult circumstances, means I am now definitely in Boro’s camp. Are you listening Wrexham, Millwall etc etc! (But of course it would be different if Fulham could be reinstated to the FA Cup!)”
The teams are out! Hull in their tiger-like amber and black shirts, Middlesbrough in red tracksuit tops. Tracksuit tops! It’s 30 degrees! They’ll be knackered before the anthem is sung and signed. Suited-up EFL chairman Rick Parry is sweating too, but then he doesn’t have to run about for up to 120 minutes, and can now make a bolt for the shade. Anyway, we’ll be off in a couple of minutes.
EFL confident result will stand
EFL chairman Rick Parry has responded to Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı’s threat to take legal action should his club not make it to the promised land this afternoon. Asked by Talksport if he believed today’s result will stand regardless, he said:
I hope so, yes of course. We have to move on. The season has to finish. Players are going off to the World Cup on Monday.
We all need clarity now and we all need certainty and what we have a habit of doing in football, all the precedents say that however frustrating it can be at times, you tend to look at punishments prospectively.
If you had to unravel the whole of the previous season’s league table, you would never get a competition finished, so that is always a guiding principle: punishments happen forwards, not backwards.
Pre-match postbag: Courtroom Chat edition. “I worry about Hull stating before the final that they will take legal action if they lose. Firstly, because it might take away from their motivation and determination if they think they could still go up even if they’re defeated. Second, because I don’t think Hull have a case” – Daniel King
“Hull announcing they will take legal action if they don’t go up today is confirmation that this whole sorry mess is just going to roll on. Surely the best way out of the situation is for the appropriate authorities to announce tonight that both teams are promoted and four go down from the Premier League. That should keep everyone happy” – John Davis
Updated
Boro boss Kim Hellberg speaks to Sky. “It’s been crazy … back and forth a lot of times … I am proud … ready … I’m really looking forward to going out there and play … [Hayden Hackney] trained not enough to be ready to start … it’s hot … using him later in the game can even out the physical thing … we know he is the best player in the league … he is ready to come in and we’re going to use him … we have had two very good days … a weird situation … a lot of emotion … try to reload … it’s been a weird time … now we are here and ready to go … it will be a good game hopefully.”
Updated
Hull manager Sergej Jakirović talks to Sky Sports. “Tuesday we had tactical training for Southampton … then Tuesday evening we changed everything … we had one tactical session for Middlesbrough … but we faced them already two times … no matter who is the opponent in the final, it’s a 50-50 game … I hope that we perform good and will be successful … we will try to get to the Prem … we are the best in transition in this league … Middlesbrough have a very good structure … it’s very hot … it’s very important that we can get possession … not just that we are running … that will be not good for us.”
As for the pre-match comments from Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı: “[The EFL] have opened up Pandora’s box … [legal action] is a question for Mr Chairman … my job is to prepare the team.”
Hull on the other hand have fond memories of this process. They’ve been through it twice, and emerged as winners on both occasions, scoring pearlers in the final in the process. Dean Windass saw off Bristol City in 2008 with a long-range howitzer, while Mohamed Diamé found the top bin with a curler to beat Sheffield Wednesday in 2016. (As a brief aside, does anyone know what happened to the dude who wrote the MBM for the 2008 final?)
Middlesbrough won the second-ever of these playoffs in 1988, beating Chelsea in a two-legged final. In doing so, they inadvertently turned Stamford Bridge into a war zone. But since then they’ve had little luck in the playoffs. They’ve been defeated in the semi-finals in 1991, 2018 and 2023, and lost a final to Norwich City in 2015.
Hull make one change to the starting XI selected for the semi-final second-leg win at Millwall. Kyle Joseph is injured so in comes Mohamed Belloumi.
Middlesbrough also make one change, following their tempestuous game at Southampton. Alan Browne replaces the stricken Tommy Conway. Hayden Hackney is on the bench, hoping to make his first appearance since picking up a calf injury in March.
The teams
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.
Referee: Jared Gillett.
Updated
Good luck with the headline on Louise Taylor’s preview piece, then. Godspeed every single person involved.
Hull to take legal action if they lose
… so that line in the preamble about the lawyers was said more in hope than expectation. Right on cue, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has been on BBC Radio Humberside to announce his intention to take legal action if his side fail to win promotion this afternoon. Here’s what he said:
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.
Updated
Preamble
In one of the infinite number of parallel universes that definitely exist, this match will be contested by Millwall and Southampton. They were the two in-form teams during the Championship run-in, after all, respectively winning five and eight of their last ten matches, while Hull and Middlesbrough both managed only three. But Millwall didn’t really show up for the play-off semi-finals, while as for Southampton … oh Tonda.
So in the end it’s sixth versus fifth for a place in next season’s Premier League. And it’s not as though Hull and Middlesbrough aren’t worthy of a place at Wembley. Boro looked good for automatic promotion for large portions of the season, and despite that aforementioned stumbling end to the campaign, still finished a mere five points off achieving that goal. Hull meanwhile, having avoided relegation to League One last year by the skin of their teeth, have turned things around admirably and timed their run almost perfectly.
Boro beat the Tigers 4-1 on Humberside at the start of December; Hull won 1-0 on Teesside at the end of it. Good luck to anyone attempting a confident prediction this afternoon, then. May the best team on grass win, and we politely request any lawyers circling, ready to swoop and offer whoever is defeated the succour and hope of litigation, to bugger off. Kick-off is at 3.30pm BST. It’s on!
