Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough - Player Ratings, Match Report, and Championship Play-Off Final 2026 Highlights

Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough - Player Ratings, Match Report, and Championship Play-Off Final 2026 Highlights

Who would have seen this at the start of the season?! Under a transfer embargo, fancied for relegation, the Tigers have roared somehow to promotion.

Despite spygate bringing Middlesbrough into the Playoff final, they couldn't find a goal as Hull City win yet another Playoff final 1-0 and make it into the Premier League.

Ollie McBurnie is Hull's hero as his late goal was enough to send Hull into Emphatic celebration.

Full-time SCENES at Wembley as Hull City are promoted to the Premier League 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xNtXZMBAhx

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 23, 2026

Match Highlights

Hull City vs Middlesbrough as it Happened

The first half at Wembley has honestly been exactly what you would expect from a Championship play-off final. Tense, scrappy at times and absolutely packed with nerves knowing what is on the line. Neither Hull City nor Middlesbrough really wanted to make the first big mistake early on, but Boro have looked the slightly stronger side overall early on.

Strelec missed a big chance as he headed the ball high and wide, he couldn't find the target with a strong opportunity.

Hull have looked dangerous on the counter attack though. Sergej Jakirović clearly set his side up to stay compact and break quickly when possible, and there were a couple of moments where they nearly caught Middlesbrough out down the wings. Millar in particular looked lively whenever Hull managed to transition forward.

Mcburnie had the best chance of the half however, after a whipped ball found his head and almost found the back of the net however the ball rifled against the crossbar, almost putting Hull infront in their biggest game in a decade.

OFF THE BAR!

Oli McBurnie comes close to giving Hull the lead at Wembley! 😰 pic.twitter.com/0y1r7OJkT2

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 23, 2026

Both sides went into half time all square, with a few half chances not enough to give either side an advantage.

Boro and Hull played it very safe throughout the first half and this continued in the second half. Neither team really took hold of the match and put the other in a period of extended pressure.

A few strong chances between Hackney, Geldhart and others, however no one could even put the ball on target let alone put it into the back of the net.

This was the case throughout the second half, until we stepped into the fourth minute of injury time, where up stepped the big man. Ollie McBurnie.

Hirakawa provided the width and flashed the ball across the box when Boro keeper Brynn messes up his take of the ball and McBurnie scores the easiest goal of his career to put Hull in close distance of Premier League football with mere minutes to go.

Middlesbrough tried their best in the final few minutes as the time reached over 100, but they couldn't find the answer to the McBurnie dagger.

Hull defended for their lives in the final few minutes just as they did throughout the match, as the final whistle blew, announcing Hull City as The CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF WINNERS!

Hull City will join both Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League next season.

The party has started at Wembley for Hull City 🏆✨ pic.twitter.com/daZd9l9g9v

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 23, 2026

Hull City Player Ratings

GK - Ivor Pandur - 6/10

Not much needed from him today, however he came up strong when needed.

RWB - Lewie Coyle - 7.5/10

Fantastic at both ends, he put in a great shift and will be commended but the Hull fans for today's performance.

CB - Semi Ajayi - 7/10

Strong in those final few minutes especially, cleared multiple big balls into the box.

CB - John Egan - 7/10

Kept Middlesbrough down to as little chances as possible.

CB - Charlie Hughes - 7/10

Same as his partners, a strong performance from the whole Hull backline.

LWB - Ryan Giles - 7/10

Nothing too crazy to shout about but kept the ball moving and didn't do much wrong.

CM - Regan Slater - 6.5/10

Not his best performance, however against a strong Middlesbrough midfield, he did an alright job.

CM - Matt Crooks - 7/10

Kept the ball moving and found the forward line well throughout.

AM - Mohamed Belloumi - 6.5/10

Not his afternoon in front of goal. Had a few half chances but couldn't manage to test the keeper or find the back of the net.

AM - Liam Millar - 6.5/10

The same and Belloumi, did well down the left hand side for Hull, however the end product wasn't what it needed to be.

ST - Oliver McBurnie - 8.5/10

What a man for Hull. His goal has sent Hull into the Premier League, he will forever be a Hull legend. Hit the crossbar in the first half but managed to find the winner late into the second.

Sub 1 - Joe Geldhart - 6/10

Sub 2 - Cody Drameh - 6/10

Sub 3 - Yu Hirakawa - 7/10

Special shoutout for this lad, his ball across the box led to the Hull winner. The Tigers fans will not forget this moment forever.

Middlesbrough Player Ratings

GK - Sol Brynn - 5/10

Unfortunate for the lad, however his spill so late into the match directly caused McBurnie's tap in. Not much to do throughout the game but this moment will be one he will want to forget.

RWB - Callum Brittain - 6.5/10

Nothing too crazy to shout about but kept the ball moving and didn't do much wrong.

CB - Luke Ayling - 7.5/10

Had a great game defensively, kept Hull's left side at bay throughout the match.

CB - Dael Fry - 6.5/10

Harsh for the Boro back line, they defended well throughout but it wasn't enough in the end.

CB - Adilson Malanda - 6.5/10

Same as his partner.

LWB - Matt Targett - 6/10

Not his best game. Didn't quite offer enough going forward and was caught out multiple times throughout the match.

CM - Alan Browne - 6.5/10

Found his forward line well and broke up play when needed. Nothing special but a decent game.

CM - Aidan Morris - 7/10

Same as his midfield partner, he kept the ball moving and had his team on the front foot at times.

AM - Morgan Whittaker - 5.5/10

Really not a good performance. In a game like this you need your forward line to do something special, he did not do this at all. Poor.

AM - Riley McGree - 6.5/10

Had a decent match but much like the rest of the attacks throughout the match, he couldn't provide that end product.

ST - David Strelec - 6/10

A few good chances throughout the match, especially a header in the first half, which he failed to find the target with. Poor, he could've been the difference maker for Boro.

Sub 1 - Hayden Hackney - 6.5/10

Sub 2 - Sontje Hansen - 6/10

Sub 3 - Jeremy Sarmiento - 6/10

Sub 4 - Cruz Ibeh - 6/10

Man Of the Match - Ollie McBurnie

Who else was this gonna be? The difference maker. Probably the biggest goal, and easiest, he will ever score in his career. What a moment for him as he sends Hull into the Premier League for the first time in a decade.

"Oli McBurnie, he's got the EYE OF THE TIGER!" 🐯🔥 pic.twitter.com/mbu5sxtTVc

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 23, 2026

Bad Day at The Office - Morgan Whittaker

Offered nothing all game in a match where Boro needed him most. Should have done better in the final third.