- Hull and Millwall have met 26 times in all competitions. Hull have won 10, Millwall 8 and they have drawn on eight occasions.
- Hull have won and kept clean sheets in the first leg of all three previous play-off campaigns, but Millwall have a history of falling short in Championship semi-finals.
- Millwall were unbeaten across their last five games (W3, D2) and finished the season with a 2-0 final-day victory.
Tigers are on the loose
Hull City claimed 6th place in the Championship table with 73 points, scoring 70 and conceding 66 along the way. The Tigers are an attacking team with lots of variance and are a bit easier to beat, but they possess a clinical edge in front of goal that few can match.
Sergej Jakirović’s nomination for the manager-of-the-season award in the Championship tells you all you need to know about his side. The Tigers play a fast-paced, vertical 4-2-3-1, that gets the ball forward in a flash and attempts to make the most of the targetman qualities of Oli McBurnie.
McBurnie has four goals across his last five appearances, finishing the regular season with a brace that secured their playoff place, but he isn’t the only threat that Hull have. Joe Gelhardt offers a creative spark to the lineup, whilst Ivor Pandur’s selection in goal could be decisive here as Hull have been porous at the back lately. If you are looking for the Hull City vs Millwall preview, this attacking versus defensive narrative is crucial to consider.
Millwall are a cagey bunch
Millwall are a much more pragmatic and disciplined outfit under Alex Neil. The Lions finished 3rd in the Championship with 83 points, 10 more than Hull, but the division’s most resilient away side, conceding just 49 goals all season.
They’re the ‘dark horse’ for this clash, but their 4-2-3-1 is a compact, physical system that prioritises organisation and winning aerial duels. They’ll look to stifle the home team and hit them on the break, usually through set pieces. Femi Azeez is their star player and he leads the team in goals and assists, whilst captain Jake Cooper is a weapon at both ends of the pitch. For those searching for Hull City vs Millwall betting tips, Millwall’s defensive stability could play a defining role.
The clash of styles
This is a clash of chaos vs control, so it will be interesting to see how the sides match up in the early exchanges. Our Hull City vs Millwall prediction sees Millwall as the slight favorites here, but Hull have only lost one of their last five home games against the Lions (W1, D3, L1).
Given the stakes, both sides will be eager not to lose and will be desperate for a first goal, as the road to Wembley and the Premier League beckons. We’re taking under 2.5 goals at 1.77, as this should be a cagey and low-scoring first leg.
Additionally, the Hull City vs Millwall prediction factors in both sides' strengths with Millwall priced up at 2.47, whilst Hull are 3.1, so we’re going for the draw at 3.32, in what should be a close game for the first half of the match at least.
