- Playoff form: Hull have won and kept shutouts in the 1st leg in each of their last three playoff campaigns.
- Playoff history: Millwall have never advanced past the semifinals of a Championship playoff.
- Head-to-head: Hull have lost only once in their last five home games against Millwall.
Hull vs. Millwall: A tale of two sides
Season overview
Hull City finished 6th in the Championship with 73 points, scoring 70 and conceding 66, while Millwall earned 83 points in 3rd, had the best away record and conceded only 49 goals all season.
Both teams play distinct styles, Hull are a high-variance attacking side, while Millwall are a disciplined, pragmatic team.
Jakirović's transformation
Sergej Jakirović’s nomination for Championship manager of the season is well-deserved. The Serbian has transformed The Tigers into a high-energy 4-2-3-1 side that is the fastest and most direct in the division.
They transition from defence to attack in a flash, play with width and focus on crossing the ball into Oli McBurnie. He is their focal point and the man that Millwall must mark.
Strengths and concerns
Jakirović’s game plan has been successful but The Tigers are prone to defensive lapses that often cost them, as Millwall’s 3-1 win in the reverse fixture showed. Hull are in mixed form, winning one of their last five games but beating Norwich 2-1 at home on the last day to secure a play-off spot, with McBurnie scoring both goals.
Discipline is key for Millwall
Hull and Millwall have faced off 26 times in all competitions. Hull have won 10, Millwall have won 8 and there have been eight draws.
Alex Neil’s men are enjoying their best run of the season, unbeaten in five, with three wins, multiple clean sheets and a 2-0 win on the final day.
Neil instills a disciplined, physical style of play on his players that make them the toughest side to play in the league. The Lions play in a compact 4-2-3-1 formation that is organised, great in the air and adept at winning duels. They suffocate opponents and create chances either by counterattacking or with set pieces.
Femi Azeez is the danger man, leading the team in goals and assists. He scored twice in the last match and is clearly in the zone.
An early goal could be crucial
Given what is at stake, a place at Wembley and a potential return to the Premier League, I think this will be a game of chess that will be hard to break open.
Millwall are a strong away side, the strongest in the Championship this season, and their solidity at the back should help them navigate a potentially tough evening.
Ivor Pandur is a good choice in goal for Hull, as Gelhardt provides a creative spark in midfield and McBurnie leads the line, while Mihailo Ivanović provides a different attacking option for Neil and captain Jake Cooper is an absolute weapon at set pieces, on both ends.
- The visitors are a slight favorite at 2.47, but I find that a bit short considering Hull’s home record and the fact that McBurnie is in such good form.
- The home side are 3.1 and I think 3.32 is a reasonable price for a draw.
- The under 2.5 goals market at 1.77 is also attractive for a game that will be tight and frustrating.
