Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough: Tigers win Premier League promotion in Championship playoff final at Wembley
Oliver McBurnie's stoppage-time goal lifted Hull City to Premier League promotion as the Tigers cashed-in their punchers chance at Wembley Stadium in the Championship playoff final on Saturday. Hull move back to the top flight for the first since their 2016-17 ended their Premier League stint inside of a decade. It was a crazy week or so, as Southampton originally beat Middlesbrough in a playoff semifinal to reach the showpiece game at Wembley.
But Saints were then expelled from the playoffs after being found guilty of Spying on several opponents during the season including prior to their semifinal first leg at Boro. That meant the decision was made for Middlesbrough to replace them in the final with just a few days notice, something Hull City weren't delighted about, but the game went ahead after incredible drama both on and off the pitch in the playoffs Never-quit Hull City survive and thrive in wild fortnight Hull City boss Sergej Jakirović couldn't have imagine a draining and arduous season could get moreso, but that's what happened over the past few weeks as his Tigers qualified for the final only to see their opponent changed midway through preparation. Hull squeaked into the playoffs over Wrexham on the final day of the regular season, but it didn't start well with just two wins through their first eight matches.
They would spend matchdays 21-43 in the top six only to fall into seventh with three matches to play. A scoreless semifinal draw at home meant they needed to go to Millwall and win — and they did, 2-0. McBurnie scored the second-most goals in the Championship regular season and his physical work to win it was symbolic of the side's season.
Now they'll enter the PL as the underdogs. They'll be familiar with that status. Hull City vs Middlesbrough final score: 1-0 Oliver McBurnie 90+5' Hull City vs Middlesbrough LIVE updates — by Nick Mendola Oli McBurnie promotion-winning goal (video) OLI MCBURNIE'S LATE WINNER SENDS HULL TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE pic.
twitter. com/CgHFYIMPiE — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 23, 2026 Oliver McBurnie goal — Hull City 0-1 Middlesbrough The big man cashes in deep into stoppage time!! Boro keeper Solomon Brynn gets off his line in a bid to stop Yu Hirakawa's cross but only gets his fingertips to it.