Millwall FC sent strong play-off warning - ‘Hull City aren’t fearful’ | OneFootball

The Tigers are potentially three games away from returning to the Premier League

With the Championship's regular season now over, all eyes in the second tier now fully turn to the play-offs.

Throughout the past 40 years since the introduction of the play-offs in 1986/87, several players at various clubs have written themselves into folklore through an iconic moment, and that is set to be no different this term either.

Indeed, just six days after the Championship's 46-game term ended in dramatic fashion, the play-offs begin on Friday night with Hull City hosting Millwall at the MKM Stadium, before the return leg at The Den takes place three days later on Monday.

Middlesbrough and Southampton complete the quartet and will also do battle over two legs on Saturday and next Tuesday respectively, with the initial prize being a place in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 23rd, before the victors of the 'richest game in football' head to the Premier League.

Over the regular season, there was a 10-point gap between Alex Neil and Sergej Jakirovic's side, largely influenced by differing runs of form heading into the play-offs, and, as such, many are making the Lions the overwhelming favourites over the 180 minutes.

However, Football League World's Hull City fan pundit, Cameron Gibson, doesn't particularly subscribe to this viewpoint.

Hull City urged to show caution with Millwall ace Femi Azeez after 11-goal season

FLW initially asked Gibson which Millwall player he is most fearful of heading into the upcoming semi-finals, and it may come as no surprise that the selection was the club's prized asset, Femi Azeez.

The winger has scored 11 goals in 35 appearances, and as well as being named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season, has attracted Premier League suitors.

However, a low point of the 24-year-old's season was in the fixture between the two sides in SE16, where he was dismissed, ironically, by this Friday's referee, Gavin Ward for an off-ball clash with Kyle Joseph, who scored twice in a 3-1 win for the Tigers.

"I wouldn't say fearful, but I do think Hull have to be cautious of Azeez," Gibson told FLW.

"He got sent off against Hull at The Den when we won 3-1, but I remember him shining for Millwall when they won 3-1 at the MKM Stadium. He's a good player.

"But, I'm not fearful of anyone. I think Hull City have got more than enough in the dressing room to beat anyone. We've proven it over the course of 46 games," he claimed.

"You could say we dropped off in April. But, apart from that, we spent 136 days in the play-offs this season, and before then (7-game winless streak ahead of final day win) we hadn't not won in more than two games. We're a good side.

Hull City backed to see off Millwall in two legged EFL Championship play-off semi-final

Despite City's form coming into the play-offs, Gibson pinpointed the likes of 17-goal striker, Oli McBurnie, among others, as to why he backs Jakirovic's men to potentially go all the way and end a 10-year hiatus from the Premier League.

"Anyone in the Championship, if they had Oli McBurnie up front, would have a chance of winning the play-offs, and that's where we find ourselves," he added.

"Players like John Egan, John Lundstram - even though he doesn't always start - and Lewie Coyle driving the team to get motivated for that Norwich game on the final day. You can't put a price on that.

"They don't have to be the highest-skilled players, but their mentality, effort and work-rate is what's got Hull City, a non-parachute payment team into the play-offs," Gibson stated.

"We might've just scraped sixth, but I do fancy us over two legs against Millwall.

"In the final, I think Southampton will probably be there. And, if my memory serves me correctly, the last team to beat Southampton (in the league) were Hull City. Make of that what you will.

"I do think we've got as good of a chance as anyone. I think the bookies putting us at 6-1 is weird. But, as Hull City fans, we're happy to go under the radar," Gibson continued.

"We've gone under the radar all season. We've been told we're getting relegated, have one of the league's worst managers and no one wants to sign for us. The season's gone in the complete opposite direction.

"If the media want to keep writing Hull City off, they can keep doing that. But, Hull City aren't fearful, and the fans are 'daring to dream.'"

As Gibson alluded to, the Tigers have shown they are capable of causing all three play-off rivals issues, having taken 12 points from a possible 18 in their regular-season clashes, including away victories at The Den, St Mary's and Riverside Stadium respectively.

However, there are plenty of nail-biting twists anticipated over the course of the coming days before anyone in HU3 can fully set their sights on what would be just a fifth trip to Wembley in 122 years of history - with all four previous visits coming since May 2008.