Millwall Vs Hull Ends 0-0 As Wembley Place Stays Open
Millwall vs Hull stayed locked at 0-0 after Friday night’s first leg at the MKM Stadium, leaving one Wembley place still open heading into Monday night. The tie now turns on a single second leg at The Den, with both clubs still alive in a Championship play-off semi-final that has no margin left for error.
Ryan Leonard had a Millwall goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up, and that decision became the sharpest moment in a cagey first leg. Alex Neil said, “It was really soft,” before adding, “Both lads were at it so it will be interesting to hear [the referee's] thoughts when he watches it back.” Sergej Jakirovic saw it differently, saying, “It was a clear foul. There was a lot of pulling and pushing, so by the rules it is a foul.”
MKM Stadium Stalemate
The first leg produced no goals and no cushion for either side. Millwall and Hull City spent Friday night level after 90 minutes, and the tie remains finely balanced as the winner moves on to Wembley.
That is the simple arithmetic of the semi-final: one side advances, the other stops here. The second leg will be played at The Den on Monday night and will kick off at 8pm, with Sky Sports Football set to show it live from 7.30pm.
Leonard’s Disallowed Finish
Leonard’s disallowed effort was the key flashpoint. Tristan Crama was deemed to have impinged upon Charlie Hughes in the build-up, and the foul call wiped out the closest thing either side had to a breakthrough.
Neil’s complaint was aimed at the threshold for the decision, while Jakirovic treated the same contact as a straightforward infringement. The opposing readings matter because this is now a 90-minute second leg that could stretch to 120 minutes, then penalties if needed.
The Den And Wembley
Hull have taken some comfort from their recent record at The Den. They have won their last two matches there, including a 3-1 victory over Millwall in December this season.
The wider numbers lean against the team finishing sixth. In the Championship era, the sixth-placed side has won only 4 out of 21 semi-finals against the third-placed side over two legs, and it has been seven years since a sixth-placed side won its semi-final to reach Wembley. Derby did it in 2019, beating Leeds in the second leg after what was described as a minor miracle from sixth place.
For Millwall and Hull, the picture is now stripped back to one night at The Den and one place at Wembley. After Friday’s 0-0 draw, the first leg has done nothing except keep both paths open.
