Hull 0-0 Millwall

I snatched up tickets for this one as soon as they came out. It is the first time I have witnessed a playoff game with my own two eyes, and I wasn’t going to miss it. Fortunately, I also secured tickets for the reverse fixture at The Den on Monday night. The buzz was growing quickly around the city, and the stadium sold out within days. The away stand was also packed to the brim. It was a battle between tigers and lions. The first half of the 180 minutes of tense and thrilling football started under the lights of the MKM Stadium.

Millwall finished 3rd in the table, meaning they had the home advantage over us. They have certainly earned this, losing just four away matches all season, and making a great charge towards the top two towards the latter stage of the season. Finishing on 83 points, they were going to be a tough test. For us, we are the most out of form team from the four playoff teams, and started a downward trajectory at the end of the season. The thrilling win against Norwich last weekend was just enough to secure a spot in the playoffs. Did we have the bottle to go all the way and overcome the mighty Millwall?

The gaffer did not make any changes from the starting eleven he fielded against Norwich last week. That meant, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, we lined up as follows: Pandur, in goal; Coyle, Egan, Hughes and Giles as the backfour; Slater and Crooks as defensive midfielders; Belloumi, Gelhardt and Millar as the attacking trio; with McBurnie leading the line.

The first half started vibrantly and it was entertaining to watch. It was us who kept the possession and dominated the game, having the first real chance within the first 10 minutes. Millar’s smart backheel freed up Belloumi on the left chanell, where he drove into the box, weaved around three defenders, before his shot from a tight angle hit the near post. Brilliant individual play from the number 10, although if he squared it to one of the men in amber in the middle of the box, we could have gone ahead.

The Lions started to find their feet, and settled into the game not long after this chance. They couldn’t half pass a ball around, and completely dominated in that department. We had to do a lot of chasing and ensuring we had men behind the ball. We struggled to cope at times, and they had too much space and time on the ball. Thierno Ballo and Azeez had two free shots, but they fired wide of the post. We had too many let-offs in the first half, as Pandur faced eight shots, thankfully, neither of which hit the target. Both teams struggled to create any clear cut chances.

The pattern of the game continued after the break, but Millwall looked more dangerous on the break as the minutes ticked away. They were highly effective in creating chances and moving the ball up-field; however, our defence was strong and did well to deter them from getting into the box. We forced them to take shots from outside the box, and one of them nearly found the net in the 69th-minute, if Neghil’s shot had not clipped the post.

The gaffer turned to his bench after this, and made some impactful substitutions, Hirikawa being one of them. His cross just 49 seconds after being introduced onto the pitch was headed narrowly past the post by McBurnie. Kyle Joseph, another one of those changes, also put in some dangerous balls into the box, but nobody was able to finish it off.

We dominated the game until the end, but it was the visitors who thought they were taking a one-goal lead back to The Den on Monday. Five minutes from the end, Azeez managed to loop the ball into the box, which was volleyed into the back of the net by Leonard, sending the award crowd into ecstasy. But, little did they know, the referee had blown his whistle for a foul on Hughes after their player committed a foul on him.

The Millwall fans spat their dummies out after this, and started to direct their anger towards our fans. Bottles, missiles, and chairs were being thrown into the home end, and police had to intervene to stop them from climbing over the barriers. Chants of ‘we will see you at The Den’ came from the away fans in the corner, who still believe they are living in the 70s and 80s. The final whistle blew shortly after this, and it will be level heading into the second leg down in Millwall.

Many fans would have taken this result, given how good Millwall have been away this season. We have a real chance heading into the away fixture and it is all to play for. We may be disadvantaged, but we have proven to be stronger away from this season. If we can get any early goal, and have something to defend, I really fancy our chances. I am glad I will be there watching. Let’s just hope I return in one piece.