Hull City vs Middlesbrough Predictions

• Hull kept clean sheets in both legs of the semi-finals
• Middlesbrough have been reinstated in the play-offs
• All four semi-final games featured fewer than three goals

Second chance for Boro

Hull and Middlesbrough face off in bizarre circumstances on Saturday as the duo battle for a place in the Premier League.

The Tigers ground out a 2-0 aggregate win over Millwall in their semi-final but Middlesbrough’s promotion bid appeared to have been ended.

Boro lost in extra time to Southampton but were then reinstated after Saints were expelled following the ‘spygate’ scandal. The St Mary’s outfit lodged an appeal but that was dismissed on Wednesday, leaving Hull vs Middlesbrough as the confirmed game for Wembley.

Furore could overshadow football

The game itself may not provide quite the same level of drama as the hullabaloo that preceded it and the best bet looks to be under 2.5 goals.

This a one-off game with incredibly high stakes and that often leads to a nervy affair with goals at a premium. Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in five of the last six Championship play-off finals and there were also fewer than three goals scored in all four of the play-off semi-final fixtures this season.

Extra time may be required

It is 1-1 between these sides this season as Boro won 4-1 at Hull in early December before the Tigers responded with a 1-0 win on Teesside later that month.

We could be in for extra-time and potentially penalties and a 1-1 stalemate is the correct score pick. Hull rode their luck at times against Millwall in the semi-finals and Boro drew twice in normal time with Saints, but a goal apiece seems more likely than a 0-0 draw as both sides have enough quality in attack to make a breakthrough.

Hull’s Joe Gelhardt started on the bench in the second leg against the Lions but scored after his introduction and should come back into the starting side. Gelhardt scored a career-brest 15 goals in the Championship this season and he looks a contender for an anytime effort.