How Hull banished the Spygate circus to write their Championship play-off fairytale
Hull 1-0 Middlesbrough: Oli McBurnie’s last-gasp winner delivered Hull an unlikely Premier League promotion in a play-off final that will forever be remembered for ill-advised espionage
Heaven for Hull . A team tipped for relegation at the start of the season, who only stayed up on goal differences last year, who were unable to buy players because of a transfer embargo, have indeed swapped divisions. But instead of dropping into League One, they are back in the Premier League .
A play-off campaign that will forever be remembered for Spygate had one last surprise, Oli McBurnie infiltrating the Middlesbrough penalty area to prod in the most lucrative goal in Hull’s history. A free transfer got the £200m strike, the richest game in world football decided by a product of the freeze on Hull’s spending. Enforced austerity has never been so profitable.
But Middlesbrough, left devastated by losing a semi-final to a club who admitted cheating , were hurt again. “Two heart-breaking losses in one week,” said manager Kim Hellberg. So Boro have a unique double, beaten in both the semi-finals and the final.
This time, it is safe to say, they will not get a reprieve. “It has been a rollercoaster for everyone in the football club,” added Hellberg. “It was the toughest two weeks I have been through.
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