Hull City are going to Wembley. Two substitutes, 15 minutes apart, ended Millwall’s promotion dream on Monday night as the Tigers completed a 2-0 aggregate win in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Final.
The Den is not a forgiving ground. When the first leg had ended goalless nine days earlier, everything was still to play for. But Hull City came to South Bermondsey with a plan, and when it mattered, their substitutes executed it perfectly.
Mohamed Belloumi changed the game. He came off the bench in the second half, picked up a pass from Matt Crooks inside the penalty area, cut inside, and curled the ball beyond Patterson in the 64th minute. It was a quality finish — the kind that quietens a hostile crowd immediately.
At 1-0 down, Millwall needed two goals. The maths changed everything.
Joe Gelhardt made it simpler still. He had been on the pitch for just two minutes when Belloumi raced forward and rolled the ball across the box. Gelhardt finished calmly, 2-0, in the 79th minute. The tie was sealed with 11 minutes to play.
What It Means
Hull City are into the Championship Playoff Final at Wembley on 23 May. Their opponents will be the winner of Southampton vs Middlesbrough, who meet on Tuesday night with the aggregate at 0-0 after their first leg stalemate at the Riverside.
The significance of this result goes beyond the scoreline. Hull finished sixth in the Championship — the lowest possible playoff seeding. They are the first sixth-placed side in seven years to win a playoff semi-final. That statistic tells you something about what the Tigers managed across these two legs.
For Millwall, the season is over. They had defended resolutely in the first leg and held firm for more than an hour on Monday night. For 63 minutes, the tie was still open. But Hull were clinical when the moment came, and Millwall could not find an answer.
The Bigger Picture
The Championship Playoff Final is the most lucrative single match in English football, with Premier League promotion transforming a club’s finances. Hull have earned their place in it.
The question now is who joins them at Wembley. Southampton host Middlesbrough on Tuesday night with everything to play for. The 0-0 first-leg result means the second semi-final is as open as this one was, and Hull City will be watching with interest.
Looking Ahead
Hull City: Championship Playoff Final, Wembley Stadium, 23 May 2026, vs TBC (winner of Southampton vs Middlesbrough) Millwall: Season concluded
Statistics sourced from ESPN, Sky Sports, the42.ie, and BritBrief. Data correct at time of writing.
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