Millwall’s curse continues as Mohamed Belloumi sends Hull into Championship playoff final

Millwall’s Championship playoff curse continues. It is now four times they have come within touching distance of reaching the promised land of the Premier League only to fall at the semi-final stage. After defeats in 1991, 1994 and 2002, this one will be especially hard to take given that Alex Neil’s side finished 10 points clear of Hull, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion on the final day. But on a night when Millwall were heavy favourites to make it to Wembley, instead it was Mohamed Belloumi who stole the show for Sergej Jakirovic’s side with a stunning opening goal before fellow substitute Joe Gelhardt rubbed their noses in it.

While the only silver lining for Millwall’s supporters is that it looks like they will get the chance to renew acquaintances with West Ham, whom they last played in 2012, Hull become the first team to finish sixth and reach the playoff final since Frank Lampard’s Derby in 2019 and will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds against whoever they face.

Neil has plenty of pedigree in the playoffs having led Norwich to the Premier League in 2015 before kickstarting Sunderland’s revival in 2022 when they returned to the Championship. He had urged Millwall’s supporters to make it a night to remember and there was certainly a real sense of anticipation as the first airing of “No one likes us, we don’t care” rang around the ground when the teams emerged before kick-off.

The big talking point from the first leg was Ryan Leonard’s disallowed goal that Neil felt should have stood, while supporters from both sides had to be separated by police after the full-time whistle. Many of those Hull fans who were brave enough to make the trip to southeast London were given free T-shirts by the club’s chair, Acun Ilicali, to show his appreciation for their efforts.

Jakirovic – who took over last summer and has defied the odds to lead Hull this far given their lowly budget – sprang a surprise by switching to a back five and it seemed to throw Millwall off their stride. Charlie Hughes called Anthony Patterson into the first save of the evening in the 10th minute from a free-kick as the visitors – who won 3-1 here in December during the regular season – made the much better start.

Mohamed Belloumi finds the net with a curling effort. Photograph: Ben Peters/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock

But it didn’t take long for the home side to find their feet. Thierno Ballo’s header was hacked off the line by Kyle Joseph before Ivor Pandur saved a rasping drive from Femi Azeez at his near post. A tricky winger who worked his way up from playing for Northwood in the eighth tier of English football, the 24-year-old has been one of Millwall’s most influential attackers this season and once again looked the most likely source of a goal.

Hull rode the storm and continued to look threatening when they attacked. John Egan wasn’t far away with a header from a free kick before Oli McBurnie forced Patterson into a smart save from a fizzing Ryan Giles cross. Millwall thought they should have had a penalty five minutes before half-time when Casper De Norre’s cross struck Hughes on the arm but it was in a natural position by his side and referee Sam Barrott instantly waved their appeals away.

Joseph’s night then came to a premature end when he limped off with a nasty-looking ankle injury, although there was not much pity from the Millwall fans who booed as he was helped off by the physio.

Once again, Hull were quickest out of the blocks at the start of the second half when Regan Slater set up McBurnie but Tristan Crama was somehow able to clear his shot off the line. There was plenty of huff and puff from Millwall yet they continued to struggle to create any chances. Neil gambled by bringing on Mihailo Ivanovic and switching to 4-4-2, swiftly followed by experienced duo Alfie Doughty and Barry Bannon. But it was Joseph’s replacement, Belloumi, who finally found the breakthrough with a spectacular strike. The Algerian had been a constant menace down the left flank and his curling shot from the edge of the area gave Patterson no chance as it went in off the far post. Cue wild celebrations in the away end.

Bannon almost gifted a second to Slater with a loose pass before Ivanovic headed over at the other end. There was no way back when Gelhardt met Belloumi’s cross with his first touch after coming on and the ball trickled through Patterson’s fingers before dribbling over the line to seal Millwall’s fate.