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 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/02/millwall-forced-to-settle-for-championship-playoffs-despite-win-over-oxford">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.