Hull City welcome Millwall to the MKM Stadium tonight, 8 May 2026, for the first leg of their EFL Championship play-off semi-final, with both clubs now just three matches away from a potential place in the Premier League.
The two sides reached the play-offs in very different circumstances. Millwall finished third with 83 points and missed automatic promotion by only one point after Ipswich Town secured second place on the final day. Hull, by contrast, had to wait until their final match to confirm sixth place, beating Norwich City 2-1 while results elsewhere also went their way.
That 10-point gap makes Millwall the higher-ranked side, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest this semi-final could be much closer than the league table indicates. The clubs won one league meeting each this season, both remarkably by 3-1 away from home, and Hull have historically enjoyed the better record across their most recent meetings.
With the return leg taking place at The Den on Monday, Hull will be hoping to make home advantage count tonight, while Millwall arrive knowing their excellent away record has been one of the foundations of their promotion challenge.
Hull City vs Millwall Head-to-Head Summary: Last 10 Matches
Hull City have actually had the stronger record across the 10 league meetings immediately before tonight's play-off semi-final.
The last 10 meetings are:
7 March 2026: Hull City 1-3 Millwall
13 December 2025: Millwall 1-3 Hull City
18 January 2025: Millwall 0-1 Hull City
24 August 2024: Hull City 0-0 Millwall
3 February 2024: Hull City 1-0 Millwall
7 October 2023: Millwall 2-2 Hull City
10 April 2023: Hull City 1-0 Millwall
5 November 2022: Millwall 0-0 Hull City
18 April 2022: Millwall 2-1 Hull City
27 November 2021: Hull City 2-1 Millwall
Across those matches, Hull recorded six victories, Millwall won twice and two games ended in draws. Hull scored 12 goals compared with Millwall's nine, producing 21 goals in total and an average of 2.1 per game.
Those figures present a different picture from the league positions. Millwall may enter the play-offs after the stronger overall campaign, but Hull have repeatedly found ways to get positive results from this fixture.
There has also been very little separating the sides in several recent meetings. Four of the previous eight encounters before this season produced either a 1-0 victory or a goalless draw.
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Most Recent Meeting: Hull City 1-3 Millwall
The most recent meeting provides Millwall with an important source of confidence. Alex Neil's side travelled to the MKM Stadium on 7 March and came away with an impressive 3-1 victory, strengthening their promotion challenge and showing they could handle Hull away from home.
That result was especially important because Hull had won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline. When the teams met at The Den on 13 December 2025, two early Kyle Joseph goals put Hull in control before Oli McBurnie added a late header to complete a 3-1 away victory. Millwall played part of that contest with 10 men.
The regular-season series therefore finished with one victory each, six goals shared evenly and both teams winning on their opponent's ground. It makes the play-off difficult to judge purely from the previous meetings. Millwall know they can win at the MKM Stadium, but Hull also know they are capable of going to The Den and producing a result.
Hull City's Current Championship Form
Hull finished sixth with 73 points from 46 matches, recording 21 wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats. They scored 70 league goals but conceded 66, giving them a goal difference of only +4. The attacking numbers are impressive for a sixth-placed team. Hull's 70 goals were the fifth-highest total in the Championship, despite the Tigers attempting relatively few shots compared with many of the teams around them.
Their defensive record is the obvious concern. Conceding 66 times was comfortably the poorest defensive total among the Championship's top six, and it means Jakirovic's side cannot afford to give Millwall the kind of opportunities they have allowed opponents throughout the campaign.
Hull's immediate form before the play-offs has also been inconsistent. Across their final five league matches, they managed one victory, two draws and two defeats. However, the most important result came last.
They entered the final day needing a victory against Norwich and also hoping to finish ahead of Wrexham in the battle for sixth. Oli McBurnie scored twice as Hull came from behind to win 2-1, securing their place in the play-offs and ending a six-game winless sequence at exactly the right moment. That dramatic qualification could provide an emotional lift going into tonight's first leg.
Millwall's Current Championship Form
Millwall enjoyed their strongest league season for many years. The Lions finished third with 83 points, winning 24 of their 46 matches while drawing 11 and losing 11. They scored 64 goals and conceded only 49, giving them a +15 goal difference.
Only one point separated them from Ipswich and automatic promotion. Millwall did everything required of them on the final afternoon, beating Oxford United 2-0 through two Femi Azeez goals, but Ipswich's 3-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers ensured the Lions would have to settle for the play-offs.
Their form entering the semi-final is considerably stronger than Hull's. Alex Neil's team are unbeaten in their last five Championship matches, with three wins and two draws. Across the second half of the season, only Southampton collected more points than Millwall's 47.
Their away form has been particularly impressive. Millwall collected 41 points away from The Den, the best away total in the Championship, and lost just four of their 23 matches on the road. That makes the first leg considerably more dangerous for Hull than the usual home-first play-off scenario might suggest. Neil has also made it clear that Millwall do not intend to travel north simply to defend and wait for the return leg.
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Hull City's Attacking Threat
Hull's biggest individual threat is Oli McBurnie. The striker enjoyed an excellent regular season, scoring 17 Championship goals and providing seven assists from 32 starts. His two goals against Norwich on the final day were among the most important of Hull's entire campaign.
McBurnie's physical presence could become particularly important against Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper. Few Championship defenders are more dominant in the air than Cooper, while McBurnie himself finished among the league leaders for aerial duels won. Their battle from crosses, long passes and set pieces could have a major influence on the first leg.
Hull also possess greater variety around their main striker. Joe Gelhardt offers movement and finishing around the penalty area, while Liam Millar can attack defenders from wide positions. Mohamed Belloumi gives Jakirovic another direct threat capable of creating chances through individual skill. Hull have therefore shown throughout the season that they can score without necessarily controlling matches for long periods.
Millwall's Main Threats
Millwall are a more defensively secure team, but their success this season has not been based solely on keeping opponents quiet. Femi Azeez has been one of the Lions' standout attacking players and entered the play-offs in particularly good form. He scored both goals against Oxford on the final day and was recognised among the Championship's leading performers during the regular season.
Mihailo Ivanovic and Josh Coburn give Neil physical options through the middle, while Jake Cooper remains a serious threat at attacking set pieces. Cooper scored in Millwall's 3-1 victory at Hull in March, and his aerial ability means the Tigers must be disciplined when conceding corners and free kicks around their own penalty area.
Barry Bannan also provides considerable Championship experience and creativity in midfield, giving Neil another option when Millwall need greater control of possession.
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Hull City Team News and Injuries
Hull's midfield has been badly affected by injuries during the closing stages of the season. The most serious absence is Eliot Matazo, who suffered another anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly after making his long-awaited return against Charlton Athletic on 25 April. It was a devastating setback after he had already spent more than a year recovering from a previous ACL problem, and he is facing another lengthy period on the sidelines.
Amir Hadziahmetovic is also unavailable because of a knee injury and is not expected to feature in the semi-final. David Akintola cannot provide an immediate solution either. The winger was unavailable for the play-off semi-finals under Hull's existing registration situation.
There is, however, better news regarding Darko Gyabi. Contrary to reports listing him as ruled out with a groin injury, Gyabi had returned after approximately 12 weeks out and was back in contention for the play-off campaign. Jakirovic therefore remains short of some important midfield options, but Hull still have enough attacking depth to cause Millwall problems.
Millwall Team News and Injuries
Millwall's biggest long-term absentee is goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, whose Achilles injury kept him out during the 2025/26 campaign. That has forced Millwall to rely on other options in goal, but the Lions have coped remarkably well considering their defensive record. Conceding only 49 goals across 46 league matches demonstrates how effectively Neil has kept the structure of the team intact despite changes between the posts.
Danny McNamara should not be listed as a confirmed play-off absentee. The defender had endured injury problems, including a serious knee issue earlier in his Millwall career, but he had worked his way back into contention by the closing stages of the season. Overall, Millwall enter the play-offs with fewer major availability concerns than Hull.
Tactical Matchup and Style of Play
1. Hull City
Hull's greatest strength is their unpredictability in attack. Jakirovic's team can use width through Millar and Belloumi, play more directly toward McBurnie, or look for Gelhardt between defensive lines. Their attacking players have also been efficient, with Hull scoring 70 times despite ranking among the teams with fewer total shot attempts.
They do not necessarily need to dominate possession to be dangerous. The problem is what happens when attacks break down. Hull concede chances regularly, and their 66 goals allowed during the season demonstrate why Jakirovic cannot simply send his players forward in search of a large first-leg advantage.
The priority should be finding the balance between making home advantage count and keeping the tie under control before Monday's return.
2. Millwall
Millwall are generally the more solid side without the ball. Neil has built a team comfortable in physical contests, capable of defending its penalty area and dangerous from set pieces. Cooper is central to that defensive strength, while Millwall's midfield works hard to prevent opponents from playing comfortably through central areas.
However, describing them simply as a defensive side would overlook their away performances. Neil has stressed that his team now plays without fear regardless of venue, and the numbers support him. No Championship club collected more away points during the regular season.
Millwall are therefore unlikely to arrive simply hoping for a draw. They have already won 3-1 at this stadium and will believe they can hurt Hull again.
Hull City vs Millwall Match Expectations
Millwall enter the semi-final as slight favourites to progress. They finished 10 points above Hull, conceded 17 fewer goals and arrive in considerably better form. Having the second leg at The Den also gives Neil's team another potential advantage.
History offers Hull encouragement, though. The Tigers have won six of their last 10 league meetings with Millwall, including a 3-1 victory at The Den earlier this season. They have also succeeded in both of their previous Championship play-off campaigns, earning promotion through Wembley in 2008 and 2016.
Tonight's first leg could therefore be decided by which team's main strength has the greater influence. Hull possess dangerous individual attackers capable of creating goals from very little. Millwall are the more consistent and defensively reliable unit.
If Hull can get McBurnie, Gelhardt and their wide players into dangerous positions without leaving their defence exposed, the Tigers have a realistic chance of taking an advantage over London. If Millwall can slow the game down, win the physical battles and exploit Hull's defensive weaknesses, their outstanding away record suggests they will be extremely difficult to beat.
Millwall deserve to begin the tie as narrow favourites based on the regular season, but their 3-1 victory at the MKM Stadium should not disguise how competitive this fixture has been. Hull have beaten the Lions more often than they have lost to them in recent years and already know they can win at The Den if necessary.
With Premier League promotion moving another step closer for the winner, this looks less like a straightforward third-versus-sixth contest and more like a genuinely balanced Championship play-off battle.