McBurnie’s late winner sinks Middlesbrough and takes Hull into Premier League

What a lot of unnecessary fuss that all was. For all the rigmarole over interns spying at golf courses and which team should be allowed to play at Wembley, it was Hull who were destined to become a Premier League club all along. Head coach Sergej Jakirovic had described his side as “collateral damage” in the spygate saga that had provided the most extraordinary precursor to this Championship playoff final, forcing him to prepare for the £200m match by analysing the wrong team for more than a wee

After nine years, Hull are back in the top flight. Following a buildup no one will forget, it was a turgid match that few will ever choose to remember. The only thing that mattered was Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time winner. Having sat deep for most the 90 minutes, Hull broke down the left through substitute Yu Hirakawa, whose cross was palmed away by Sol Brynn, but only as far as McBurnie. The Scot could not miss his rebound from a couple of yards. Victory will come as a relief to many given Hull owner, Acun Ilicali, had vowed that his side would take legal action in the event of defeat here, questioning why an eliminated team had been reinstated. Speaking immediately before kick-off – “now the boys are in the stadium and they will not hear me” – he suggested his lawyers would argue that either Hull should have been declared playoff winners after Southampton’s expulsion or seventh-placed Wrexham inserted into a semi-final against Middlesbrough . Thankfully, the threat will no longer need to be acted upon. Oliver McBurnie pounces on a rebound to score the winner. On that occasion it was relegation to League One that was of paramount concern – a fate they avoided on the final day of the season only thanks to superior goal difference. They then began this campaign with a three-window transfer fee embargo – later reduced to two – that has left them relying on suitable free agents when looking to strengthen. The pre-season target, admitted Jakirovic, was to finish in the top 10, “but I thought that would be difficult”.

Key points

• After nine years, Hull are back in the top flight.
• Following a buildup no one will forget, it was a turgid match that few will ever choose to remember.
• The only thing that mattered was Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time winner.
• Having sat deep for most the 90 minutes, Hull broke down the left through substitute Yu Hirakawa, whose cross was palmed away by Sol Brynn, but only as far as McBurnie.
• The Scot could not miss his rebound from a couple of yards.