Hull City and Millwall played out a tense goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the decisive second leg at The Den on Monday evening.
The match was a cautious affair, with few clear-cut chances and both teams seemingly content to keep the tie alive for the return leg. Millwall, who last tasted top-flight promotion in 1988 when they beat Hull at Boothferry Park, will be the happier with the result, having secured a valuable draw away from home.
Chances at a Premium
The best opportunity of the first half fell to Hull's Mohamed Belloumi, whose shot struck the post after a brilliant run in the opening minutes. However, that early promise gave way to a tightly contested midfield battle, with both sides reluctant to take risks.
Millwall thought they had snatched a late winner when Ryan Leonard bundled the ball into the Hull net with three minutes remaining, but the goal was ruled out after Tristan Crama was adjudged to have pulled Charlie Hughes down in the build-up. Millwall manager Alex Neil expressed his frustration, calling the decision "very soft."
Managers' Reactions
Neil said: "I thought we were the better side. I'm probably not satisfied if I'm being honest, we wanted to take a lead back on the basis of us being better in general. But if you'd said to me we'd have one game at home to get to a playoff final and it was all square, I'd have taken it."
Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic was content with the draw: "I expected a game like this. It was a big battle all over the pitch. I think we had the best chance through Mo, I thought it was going to be a goal. In the end, a draw. I think it's a fair result but it's half-time."
Second Leg Preview
The game only livened up in the final 20 minutes after both managers made substitutions. Hull's Yu Hirakawa had a positive impact, nearly setting up Oli McBurnie, while Millwall's Barry Bannan provided a noticeable lift and could earn a start on Monday.
With the tie finely poised, the second leg promises to be a tense affair. Millwall will be hoping to replicate their 1988 success, while Hull will aim to secure a first win at The Den this season after winning there earlier in the campaign. The match could go all the way, potentially requiring extra time and penalties to separate the two sides.
