Hull City have been defying expectations all season, and they showed no signs of stopping after securing a spot in the Championship play-off final with a 2-0 victory over Millwall. The Tigers were initially tipped to battle relegation after being hit with a two-window transfer embargo, but they have consistently upset the odds.
A Stunning Upset
Coming into the match, Hull had not won away from home since March 10, and they were expected to lose to a Millwall side that narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the Premier League by a single point. Furthermore, it had been seven years since the sixth-placed team reached the play-off final. However, this scrappy, inventive, and brave Hull side rewrote that record, winning 2-0 to put themselves within 90 minutes of a Premier League return.
Mohamed Belloumi Shines
The match lacked ferocity initially, but when the pressure mounted, Mohamed Belloumi stepped into the spotlight. Sent on as a substitute just before half-time after Kyle Joseph was forced off in tears following a heavy challenge, Belloumi proved unstoppable. Millwall manager Alex Neil attempted to counter by replacing left-back Zak Sturdge with Alfie Doughty, but the move backfired spectacularly. Belloumi turned Doughty inside out as he drove up the right, before cutting in and finding the bottom corner in front of the boisterous away fans.
Belloumi continued to wreak havoc, sealing the contest by turning provider for fellow substitute Joe Gelhardt, who had been on the pitch for just 60 seconds. Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson looked distraught as Gelhardt's strike, which he got a hand to, trickled past him. The error sealed the tie, and multiple Millwall players dropped to the turf in devastation.
Underdogs Again
Hull will be underdogs once more in the Wembley final later this month against either Middlesbrough or Southampton. But they have been underdogs all season, and they have no plans to stop now.
