Millwall’s curse endures as Hull reaches playoff final

Millwall’s Championship playoff curse continued as Mohamed Belloumi sent Hull City into the Championship playoff final on May 11, 2026. This defeat marked the third time Millwall came tantalizingly close to the Premier League, only to fall at the semi-final stage. After previous disappointments in 1994 and 2002, this loss was particularly bitter for Millwall, as they had finished 10 points ahead of Hull, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion on the season's final day.

On a night when Millwall were heavy favorites to advance to Wembley, it was Belloumi who captivated the crowd with a stunning opening goal for Hull, which was managed by Sergej Jakirovic. Fellow substitute Joe Gelhardt added to the misery for Millwall with a second goal later on. The defeat leaves Millwall supporters with a bittersweet prospect of potentially facing their rivals West Ham, who they last met in 2012.

Hull, relegated from the Premier League in 2017, became the first team to finish sixth and reach the playoff final since Frank Lampard's Derby County in 2019. This achievement was remarkable for a team that barely avoided relegation last season by goal difference. Team captain Lewie Coyle expressed the team's belief in their potential success, stating, "Incredible. It’s something we all believed we could do when we finalized that playoff spot on the last day in such dramatic fashion. We said: ‘Why shouldn’t it be us?’"

Millwall's manager, Alex Neil, had significant playoff experience, having previously led Norwich City to the Premier League in 2015 and contributing to Sunderland’s revival in 2022. Despite the intimidating atmosphere created by Millwall's supporters, Neil acknowledged his team’s failure to meet expectations, stating, "We rolled the dice by bringing on an extra striker, conceded a goal straight away and then we were chasing our tails. It’s a tough one because we feel like we’ve let people down."

The first leg's controversy involved a disallowed goal by Ryan Leonard, which Neil felt should have been valid. After the full-time whistle, police had to separate fans from both sides, highlighting the intensity of the rivalry. Hull supporters who traveled to London received free t-shirts from the club's Turkish chair, Acun Ilicali, as a gesture of appreciation, with many staying after the final whistle to celebrate their victory.

Jakirovic surprised Millwall by changing to a back five formation, which unnerved the home team. Millwall struggled to find their rhythm, with Thierno Ballo’s header cleared off the line and Femi Azeez having a powerful shot saved. The second half saw Hull come out strong again, nearly expanding their lead with a chance that Millwall managed to clear.

After substitutions aimed at shifting Millwall into a more attacking formation, Belloumi broke the deadlock with a curling shot that hit the far post. Gelhardt then scored from Belloumi’s cross, sealing Millwall’s fate and sending Hull into the playoff final.