Hull City were promoted to the Premier League after an Oli McBurnie goal in stoppage time sealed the most dramatic of 1-0 victories over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at a sweltering Wembley.
A match played in searing heat was drifting towards extra time when McBurnie pounced to lash home a loose ball in the 95th minute after a fumble by Boro keeper Sol Brynn.
Hull will return to the top flight for the first time since they were relegated in 2017 and reap the reward of what is known as the £200m game.
The circumstances surrounding this final were truly unprecedented, with Southampton being expelled from the play-offs after they were caught spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which the Saints won 2-1 on aggregate. Boro were given a reprieve but couldn’t take advantage as they are now consigned to another season in the Championship.
Follow all the reaction from the Championship play-off final at Wembley in our live blog below:
Hull vs Middlesbrough LIVE
- Hull dramatically beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the championship play-off final to seal Premier League promotion
- Oli McBurnie lashed home in the 95th minute to send Tigers fans wild at a sweltering Wembley
- REPORT: How Hull banished the Spygate circus to write their Championship play-off fairytale
- 90+5' - GOAL! McBurnie nets dramatic injury-time winner for Hull [HUL 1-0 MID]
How Hull banished the Spygate circus to write their play-off fairytale
18:56 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Heaven for Hull. A team tipped for relegation at the start of the season, who only stayed up on goal differences last year, who were unable to buy players because of a transfer embargo, have indeed swapped divisions. But instead of dropping into League One, they are back in the Premier League. A play-off campaign that will forever be remembered for Spygate had one last surprise, Oli McBurnie infiltrating the Middlesbrough penalty area to prod in the most lucrative goal in Hull’s history.
A free transfer got the £200m strike, the richest game in world football decided by a product of the freeze on Hull’s spending. Enforced austerity has never been so profitable. But Middlesbrough, left devastated by losing a semi-final to a club who admitted cheating, were hurt again. “Two heart-breaking losses in one week,” said manager Kim Hellberg.
So Boro have a unique double, beaten in both the semi-finals and the final. This time, it is safe to say, they will not get a reprieve. “It has been a rollercoaster for everyone in the football club,” added Hellberg. “It was the toughest two weeks I have been through.”
Full report from Wembley:
How Hull banished the Spygate circus to write their play-off fairytale
EFL avoid legal headache with Hull owner
21:40 , Will Castle
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali confirmed before the match that he will take legal action if his side lost to Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley this afternoon.
"Our legal team says that we have to go for action, that’s for sure," Ilicali told BBC Radio Humberside ahead of kick-off at Wembley
"So we have no doubt about it. Here, all we want is justice. If justice is broken, nobody will enjoy football.”
Fortunately for all parties involved (barring Boro), there was happy ending for Hull. That should keep that specific Spygate can of worms sealed shut.
Southampton are guilty of needless idiocy after £200m blunder
21:20 , Will Castle
How Saints fans would’ve rued the actions of their own club today... Richard Jolly delves into the idiocy surrounding Spygate:
The club that wanted to know everything seemed to have missed one minor detail in their investigations. More than 12 hours after one of the more explosive announcements in EFL history, the main story on Southampton’s club website still concerned Ross Stewart’s call-up to Scotland’s World Cup squad. And ‘the Loch Ness Drogba’ will indeed be one of the best nicknames in the United States this summer.
A more immediate issue, however, was Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs; even the four-point deduction applied to next season’s Championship campaign felt a footnote. Southampton launched an immediate appeal; should it fail, however, then this sorry episode will rank as one of the most expensive miscalculations in footballing history.
Before being thrown out, Southampton were the favourites to beat Hull in Saturday’s play-off final. Promotion could be worth £200m. Even put the morality of their amateurish antics to one side for a moment and this is the £200m cock-up.
Southampton are guilty of needless idiocy after £200m blunder
The one-nil Wembley specialists
21:00 , Will Castle
Hull City have won all three of their Championship play-off finals:
- Hull 1-0 Bristol City (2008)
- Hull 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (2016)
- Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough (2026)
Ecstacy versus agony
20:40 , Will Castle
Sergej Jakirovic: Owner is '100 percent supportive'
20:20 , Will Castle
Sergej Jakirovic has hailed Hull City’s owner after sealing promotion to the Premier League.
"He is 100% supportive and they must believe us and without his trust we cannot do anything. This is crucial for any coach in this league,” he told Sky Sports.
"I am happy with where I am (in the leadership team) because they know what I need and our football style. We are on the same page and this is very important."
Hull's penchant for play-off magic
20:00 , Will Castle
Windass had the quality, but McBurnie had the drama. How does today’s Hull play-off winner compare to 2008’s?
"Oli McBurnie, he's got the EYE OF THE TIGER!" 🐯🔥 pic.twitter.com/mbu5sxtTVc
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 23, 2026
🏆 The excitement of the @EFL play-off finals is fast approaching.
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) May 21, 2018
🐯 Throwback to 08' when Dean Windass sent @HullCity fans into delirium. #hcafc #FeelEveryEmotion pic.twitter.com/NXIg6gL6wd
Kim Hellberg emotionally drained
19:45 , Will Castle
“It was the toughest two weeks I've been through,” Hull boss Kim Hellberg told Sky Sports.
“With emotions and back and forth and handling those things. From the game vs Southampton and the extra time and how that game ended.
“It's been draining emotionally. There's no excuse. Hull scored today. We were ready to play.
“Two heart-breaking losses in one week. I’m disappointed, sad. Very, very flat in terms of emotions of all the things we put into the year. It is a very, very tough moment.
“I wish I could have done better through this period in finding better solutions when we didn't score those goals. Put those games to bed. That's what football comes down to.
“It's my responsibility. I have to try, after the break, to develop myself and help the players better in those situations.”
Hull owner: 'This is the best day of my life'
19:30 , Will Castle
"This is the best day of my life for sure,” Hull City owner Acun Ilicali told Sky Sports. “Because in my career, I managed many successes starting from zero in my business.
"But football is a crazy thing. You can enjoy every moment in every profession. But the enjoyment of football, the goal [going] inside, you win it, this is different for the psychology.
"This (his reaction at full-time) is the video of my life. This is my family, my daughters, my brother, my wife.
"We waited so much time (in stoppage time). Last five minutes I couldn't move because I wouldn't be able to handle a last-minute goal."
The richest game in football
19:15 , Will Castle
For winning the Championship play-off final, Hull City will receive at least a £200m revenue windfall.
The riches of Premier League promotion, eh!
Sergej Jakirovic in disbelief
18:45 , Will Castle
"It's an amazing feeling. I still can't believe we did it because we suffered a lot all game,” said Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic to Sky Sports.
"The regular season was over and this was like starting a completely new tournament, no matter how many points you had.
"It's about pressure. In the regular season, you have time to fix everything.
"This is a very demanding, very difficult league. I have been working in Turkey, in Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and it's a little bit different.
"The intensity, with lots of games, is unbelievable."
Hull skipper Lewis Coyle pays tribute to dad
18:30 , Will Castle
"It's tough,” Lewis Coyle told Sky Sports. “There's just one man I want to celebrate this with. He's not with us. I look up at the sky and I had a look up there today. He's with me, I know he's with me, for sure.
"The next best thing is I have my family, my beautiful partner, my little boy, my brothers and my friend that have been there since day one.
"I don't think there's many people that thought I could captain a side to the Premier League and even saying that out loud sounds a little bit wild. I'm just an honest, humble kid.
"But there's certainly one man that would have believed in me and that's my old man - and that's all I told myself throughout the game.
"He would've been saying 'you can do it, son, f*** them'. I know I swore and I shouldn't, I apologise, but I had to get it in there because that's how my old man spoke.
"I just kept replaying those words in my mind and he got us over the line today. I know for a fact my old man did it."
'Oli McBurnie: The new Dean Windass'
18:15 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“Hull are up and that is an extraordinary story. Many tipped them for relegation last summer. They were under a transfer embargo. But they end the season in the Premier League.
“Maybe Oli McBurnie is the new Dean Windass. The scorer of the goal that takes Hull up. Poor Sol Brynn, though; the Middlesbrough keeper knows that was an error.”
Middlesbrough heartbroken
18:00 , Will Castle
Middlesbrough were very much in the hunt for automatics this season. They let that slip.
They thought they missed out on a redemption shot at Wembley. Thanks to Southampton’s own undoing, they got a second chance.
But in the cruellest way, promotion has been ripped from their grasp. It’s all over now.
Hull are going up!
17:57 , Will Castle
Oli McBurnie: It was written for me to get the winner
17:47 , Will Castle
"For the first time ever, I think I'm speechless,” Oli McBurnie told Sky Sports.
"It's been a long, hard season and that game today summed us up. We knew we weren't going to come in and have all of the ball - I don't think we've won a game this year when we've had more of the ball than the opposition!
"It was tough out there with the heat and Middlesbrough are a top, top team. We knew we were going to be right up against it, but we felt we'd have one chance and it was written for me to get it.
"I didn't think it would be so late on, but what a feeling.
"When I first got my move to Sheffield United, it was what they expected of me and I probably wasn't really ready to be that person.
"As I've grown and got older and more mature, I think I've grown into that role and I enjoy that. I was looking forward to this game so much I couldn't sleep last night!"
Hull City promoted to Premier League after late play-off final win
17:45 , Will Castle
Hull City have been promoted to the Premier League after snatching a last-gasp win over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final.
After watching the Spygate scandal unfold, uncertain of who they would face at Wembley until 48 hours before kick-off, Hull left it late to deliver the drama on the pitch and scold Boro on their second play-off chance.
Oli McBurnie pounced on a Sol Brynn mistake to poke home a 95th-minute winner, leaving the Teesiders heartbroken.
Having survived relegation to League One on goal difference last term, Sergej Jakirovic has pulled off a fairytale rise for the Tigers by sealing them top-flight football for the first time since suffering the drop in 2017.
FULL-TIME! Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:40 , Will Castle
Hull’s owner vowed to take legal action if his side didn’t win today. That could’ve been messy - fortunately for all involved, he won’t need to.
There were calls for the club to get promotion automatically after Spygate - if they had, they would have been robbed of this moment.
Soak it in, Tigers!
FULL-TIME! Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:37 , Will Castle
After spending the last week unsure who they would face, Hull City have delivered and done themselves justice.
Middlesbrough players are inconsolable. Sol Brynn is distraught. Hayden Hackney, surely on his way out of his boyhood club, is in tears.
But it’s pure elation for the Tigers.
FULL-TIME! Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:35 , Will Castle
HULL CITY ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:34 , Will Castle
90+14 mins: Ayling goes long, again headed clear. Then Malanda, when it matters, completely miscues it and hoofs his ball out for a throw. That ended up behind him somehow.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:33 , Will Castle
90+13 mins: Hull fans think the whistle has gone and start cheering from the goal-kick. Not yet.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:33 , Will Castle
90+12 mins: The free-kick has too much on it and it flies straight out for a goal-kick.
Brynn has to dash back to his own box. That could be season over for Boro. That could be promotion for Hull.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:32 , Will Castle
90+12 mins: Boro win a free-kick on the edge of the centre circle. Brynn is going forward.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:31 , Will Castle
90+11 mins: Whistles are blowing from the crowd. Boro deliver from the left, headed away. Then another cross comes from deep, Ajayi is there.
The flag goes up. Hull have a free-kick in their area. Time to lump it forward.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:30 , Will Castle
90+10 mins: Hull’s owner is in the stands and looks absolutely stunned. He’ll be taking them to the Premier League, unless Boro can save themselves.
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough
17:29 , Will Castle
90+8 mins: McBurnie has been booked for taking his shirt off.
Here come a raft of changes from both teams.
Lundstram and McNair are on for Slayter and Coyle for Hull. Sarmiento is on for Browne for Boro.
We’re back underway, into the eighth minute of eight added on. But there’s a good few minutes to play. Boro have to go for this now.
GOAL! Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough (McBurnie, 90+5')
17:25 , Will Castle
THERE IT ISSSSSSSSS!!! OLI MCBURNIE MIGHT HAVE JUST SEALED A PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN FOR HULL CITY!
Yu Hirakawa darts down the left before drilling in a low cross - Sol Brynn dives for it but the ball just goes through his gloves, and there’s McBurnie in the right place to poke it home.
You’d want this to be decided on a moment of magic rather than a mistake. Unfortunately for Brynn, that will go down as a keeper error.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:23 , Will Castle
90+2 mins: Hull’s Hughes takes a clearance flush on the head and will need to be checked over. Another chance to grab a much-needed drink in these extreme conditions.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:22 , Will Castle
90+1 mins: Hackney is threaded through and produces a lovely Cruyff turn that nearly sees him caught by a flailing Hull leg in the box.
He stays on his feet and cuts it back to a red shirt, but Boro can’t get a shot through.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:21 , Will Castle
90 mins: EIGHT minutes added on in second-half stoppages.
Eight minutes to find a winner. Eight minutes to deliver Premier League football to a club without it in nine years.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:21 , Will Castle
89 mins: The seconds are ticking away and you can feel the heat is beginning to take its toll. The pace has dropped.
Morris has a crack from distance for Boro, before Whittaker produces a wild cross that flies out for a goal-kick.
'Heading for extra time'
17:17 , Will Castle
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“One shot on target in the first 84 minutes. That could explain why this one looks to be going to extra time.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:15 , Will Castle
84 mins: Hull try to break away through Hirakawa after Gelhardt does well to protect the dropping ball, but it’s brilliant recovery work by Morris how thwarts the Japanese substitute.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:13 , Will Castle
82 mins: CLOSE! Gelhardt nearly catches everyone by surprise on the spin, firing towards the far corner but seeing his effort roll wide. Encouraging for Hull.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:12 , Will Castle
80 mins: SAVE! That looked like the big moment!
Substitute Hansen is slipped into the area by a slicing Hackney pass but can’t find the net, denied by a superb stop by Pandur.
The flag goes up anyway and it was indeed offside - perhaps a relief to Hansen. But Pandur was not to know that.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:08 , Will Castle
77 mins: Changes coming for both teams.
Riley McGree leaves accompanied by the Boro physio the pitch crestfallen, heading straight down the tunnel. Sontje Hansen replaces him.
For Hull, Ryan Giles - who went down a few minutes ago with cramp - comes off for Yu Hirakawa. Mo Belloumi is also replaced by Cody Drameh.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:04 , Will Castle
73 mins: Doesn’t look good for McGree, this. He goes down clutching the back of his left hamstring and by his facial expression, this will be the end of his afternoon.
His head is in his hands. He’s not long been back from injury.
Just as Hellberg welcomed Hackney on, Boro have been dealt a fresh blow.
'Hull hold considerable advantage on bench'
17:02 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“A look at the two benches suggests Hull have a considerable advantage - the semi-fit Hackney apart, anyway. Joe Gelhardt, who has just come on, has scored 15 goals this season, one in the semi-final win over Millwall.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
17:00 , Will Castle
70 mins: Here comes Hayden Hackney. A Teeside welcome as the England U21 international replaces David Strelec.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:59 , Will Castle
68 mins: Giles goes down with cramp after thwarting Whittaker close to the byline in the box and winning a goal-kick.
Time for another drinks break. Hackney is stripped and getting instructions.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:58 , Will Castle
66 mins: Big roar from the Boro end as Hayden Hackney gets stripped on the touchline.
“He’s one of our own, Hayden Hackney, he’s one of our own,” sing the travelling Teesiders, serenading their boy who will surely be Premier League-bound regardless of the result today.
Strelec is the man who is said to be making way.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:55 , Will Castle
64 mins: First change of the game, and it’s Hull who are switching things up.
Liam Millar makes way for Joe Gelhardt, who scored the second goal of the Tigers’ play-off win at The Den.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:54 , Will Castle
62 mins: More end-to-end stuff. Middlesbrough’s McGree has an effort blocked on the edge of the area before Strelec also has his shot cleared.
Then as referee Jarred Gillett plays an advantage, Hull attack through Belloumi who cuts inside a shoots straight at Brynn.
'Kim Hellberg faces complicated Hayden Hackney decision'
16:52 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“Kim Hellberg faces a decision when to bring on Hayden Hackney, which is complicated by the possibility of extra time. Bring him on soon and he may need to play for an hour - which he might not be able to do.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:51 , Will Castle
60 mins: We’ve got a game now. Both teams are asking questions, with Hull just looking to counter after a period of Boro possession in their half.
Millar comes forward but it’s a superb sliding challenge from Ayling to thwart him.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:47 , Will Castle
56 mins: Brilliant defending from Hughes to keep his cool after Whittaker tries to set Strelec into the box. He watches the ball and makes his challenge to thwart the Boro striker.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:44 , Will Castle
51 mins: Now it’s Hull’s turn to come forward.
After Giles’ delivery gives Brynn something to worry about, not finding a Hull man but flashing just wide, Coyle clips another cross into Crooks whose header from the penalty spot just doesn’t have the power or precision.
The life this game found at the tail-end of the first half seems to have carried over into the second.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:41 , Will Castle
48 mins: CHANCE! Middlesbrough have started this second half well.
Whittaker’s eyes light up as a lovely cushioned header is knocked back to him at the edge of the box, allowing him to put his foot through it aiming for the bottom left corner.
It’s blocked by a Hull leg rather than Strelec’s winning Boro a corner. The first one is deep and threatens without an effort going goalwards, but they get another, which probably produces their best opportunity of the game.
It’s delivered deep again to Fry who leaps and heads onto the roof of the net. He was in a really good position to bury that.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:38 , Will Castle
46 mins: Pandur starts the half slightly red-faced as he receives the ball straight from kick-off, only to be closed down by Strelec, who blocks his clearance.
Luckily it just runs out for a goal-kick - it could’ve been a lot worse.
BACK UNDERWAY! Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:37 , Will Castle
The players are back out under the sweltering sun... and we are back underway!
'Another former manager at Wembley...'
16:36 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“Not the most eventful first half, though it got better in the last few minutes. But another former manager here today is Alan Pardew who once headbutted Hull's David Meyler and who, 10 years ago, famously danced at Wembley when his Crystal Palace team took the lead in the FA Cup final. Though it may be unfair to remember him purely for those two incidents.”
ICYMI: Hull City owner vows legal action if they lose play-off final amid Spygate scandal
16:29 , Will Castle
In case you missed the pre-match Spygate development...
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has confirmed he will take legal action if his side lose to Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley this afternoon.
Ilicali had hinted earlier in the week that he would consider this course of action, after Middlesbrough were reinstated to the play-offs following Southampton’s expulsion amid the Spygate scandal, but has now confirmed his intentions.
The Tigers face Boro with a place in the Premier League at stake, with the play-off final commonly described as the richest game in football, worth around £200m to the winning team, and Ilicali is adamant Boro should never have been allowed back in after losing.
"Our legal team says that we have to go for action, that’s for sure," Ilicali told BBC Radio Humberside ahead of kick-off at Wembley
"So we have no doubt about it. Here, all we want is justice. If justice is broken, nobody will enjoy football.”
Hull City owner vows legal action if they lose play-off final amid Spygate scandal
HALF-TIME! Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:27 , Will Castle
No goals yet...
HALF-TIME! Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:25 , Will Castle
We await a first goal at Wembley as Middlesbrough and Hull go into the break all square following a cagey final first half of this Championship play-off final.
A match surrounded by drama off the pitch, both teams took their sweet time to find their mojo and give something to gasp about on the pitch in the sweltering sun.
But as the clock ticked over to 45 minutes, Hull produced the biggest moment of the half as Oli McBurnie hit the bar.
Then up the other end three minutes later, Middlesbrough came forward on the counter and had their best chance, with David Strelec dragging his shot just wide.
HALF-TIME! Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:21 , Will Castle
It’s been a slow burner, but this Championship play-off final is finally bursting into life!
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:20 , Will Castle
45+3 mins: CHANCE! Boro get a late opportunity to break the deadlock!
They come forward on the counter with Hull back-peddling, but Strelec can only drag his shot wide from the edge of the box.
That’ll be that for the first half...
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:19 , Will Castle
45+1 mins: Three minutes of added time.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:17 , Will Castle
45 mins: OFF THE BAR! The biggest moment of the game so far!
McBurnie is fighting with Malanda to get his head on the cross, and it actually bounces off the Boro man and hits his own crossbar.
It initially looked like it came off McBurnie’s head, hence the decision of goal-kick.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:16 , Will Castle
44 mins: Big hand from Pandur to flap a dangerous cross from McGree away from the red shirts approaching at the back post.
This game is finally finding some life!
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:15 , Will Castle
43 mins: CLOSE! That would have been special!
Belloumi puts it onto his left and tries bending into the top corner from range, but it flashes just wide of the post.
McGree would have been scolded if that went in - he was so passive to the threat and just let the Hull man shoot.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:13 , Will Castle
41 mins: Better from Boro. They work it nicely before McGree tries to slip Whittaker into the box but he’s well shepherded and can’t get anything behind the shot.
Moments later Boro come again, with McGree poking it to Strelec to shoot. However, it’s blocked by the heel of his own team-mate in Whittaker.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:11 , Will Castle
39 mins: That was the first roar inside Wembley for a while!
In a flash Hull look to be in on goal, with Millar chasing down a forward ball after timing his run to perfection.
But Brynn is alert to get off his line and boot it away before the Canadian can reach it.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:08 , Will Castle
35 mins: Evident frustration from the Boro fans as they fail to show much urgency offered an opportunity to really attack the Hull defence.
The Tigers lose the ball in their final third with Whittaker collecting, but he stutters over a shot and ends up going down injured.
Boro players then contemplate whether to kick the ball out for their stricken team-mate, slowing the game down even more before he eventually gets back to his feet. They try and work it around the box but it eventually runs out for a throw on the right.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
16:04 , Will Castle
32 mins: This is quite the slow-burner so far.
Boro end up having a passage of 20 passes before losing the ball, all without making any progress towards the Hull final third.
They then show some signs of encouragement as they try and slip Strelec in, but he slips with Ajayi chasing and the chance goes away.
'Boro gameplan not working so far'
16:00 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“Quite a lot of Middlesbrough's gameplan so far consists of Luke Ayling aiming long balls over the Hull defence for someone to chase. There's no sign of it working so far.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:58 , Will Castle
27 mins: Back underway, the players hydrated in this searing London sun.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:57 , Will Castle
24 mins: The Tigers are beginning to show their teeth!
Millar is the source of threat from the left as the Canadian drives and delivers towards Coyle at the back post.
Coyle’s header is looping and might be landing on the roof of the net, but Brynn isn’t taking any chances.
The corner ends up going backwards sooner than those Hull fans would have hoped and it’s eventually blasted well over from range.
And with that, we have our first drinks break of the game.
How much are Boro missing Tommy Conway?
15:55 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“There was always the question if Middlesbrough would miss the injured Tommy Conway. His rather erratic finishing has proved a problem at times this season but the Scotland striker's movement is excellent and he can exhaust defences and create space for others. Perhaps they could have done with him today.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:50 , Will Castle
19 mins: A glimmer of a chance for Strelec.
After Hull fail to get a corner cleared, it’s dinked towards the Boro striker who just rises a bit late and heads well over the bar.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:49 , Will Castle
17 mins: Boro are beginning to really knock at the door. They work it into the box twice for the left, forcing Hull into defensive action to block balls that could fly across Pandur’s goal-face.
Hull then go long trying to break on the counter with Belloumi chasing, but it’s easily dealt with.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:47 , Will Castle
16 mins: Long-range effort from Morris is dragged and dribbles well wide, but he’s furiously appealing for a corner, which he isn’t going to get.
Morris has never scored for Boro in 81 games. Now would be a great time to get his first.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:43 , Will Castle
11 mins: Concern for Boro as Browne goes down in agony after Crooks stamps on his foot while trying to win the ball.
It isn’t malicious from the Hull man and the challenge is too low to be a red, but a painful one for Browne. Looks like he’s OK to continue.
A reminder that VAR is in operation today.
'Boro looking positive without really threatening'
15:42 , Richard Jolly at Wembley
Here’s Richard Jolly inside Wembley:
“Boro made a fast start to both legs of the semi-final. They got an early goal at St Mary's and really should have had a first-half lead at the Riverside, given the chances they created. They have looked the more positive side so far, but without really threatening a breakthrough.”
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:41 , Will Castle
7 mins: Boro look to go long as they try and set Whittaker away but Pandur is alive to the situation and races out to collect.
It comes after Hull tried to pump it down the left for Coyle, only for Targett to ease him out for a throw.
After a quick start, this is settling into something of a chess match.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:37 , Will Castle
5 mins: Boro seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages. Hull try and give them something to think about by lofting in a deep cross from the left but it’s easily caught by Brynn.
Hull 0-0 Middlesbrough
15:34 , Will Castle
2 mins: Positive start by Boro as they work the ball down the left, McGree whipping in a dangerous low cross aiming for Strelec but Pandur dives out to collect.
Hull's head of recruitment talks on building promotion-worthy squad
19:19 , Will Castle
"We put a squad together just to try and get out of this league,” Hull City head of recruitment Martin Hodge told BBC Radio Humberside. “The lads have been absolutely brilliant, and manager has been a breath of fresh air.
"This is my 52nd year and I've been all over the world with Wales, I've been with big clubs. But this is the biggest achievement for me.
"I sat at Portsmouth last year, and I thought, 'what have I joined?'
"So, in the space of a year, I think that's the biggest credit, the biggest achievement, is to those lads in the management, and our staff.
"I just think today has been one of the greatest days we've ever achieved, because it's about us and what this group of people, the staff, and not to forget the people in the background.
"All the hours they put into this and to everybody in that dressing room, absolutely magnificent."
