As you were.

Play-off semi-final first legs are more often tight affairs than wide open ones and when the final whistle blew of an arm wrestle of a game between Hull City and Millwall, we were no further on than at the start.

There were a decent amount of chances – more, it must be said, for the Lions – but few of high quality and having each scored four goals against the other in the regular season, this always looked likely to be a much tighter affair.

Hull will probably be more relieved to come away with a 0-0 draw, especially when Camiel Neghli had a goal disallowed after a tug of war where neither looked like an innocent party.

But a game that was more absorbing than exciting leaves everything to play for in Monday's second leg at the New Den. This feels like a tie where one mistake or moment of brilliance could make the difference. Ninety minutes may well not be enough on Monday.

With both sets of fans contributing, the atmosphere at Hull's sold-out stadium was intense, and the football not far behind, without keeping either goalkeeper busy - one shot on target for Hull, two for their visitors.

Millwall won their first long throw-in inside 30 seconds, put behind by Oli McBurnie for their first corner.

With less than two minutes gone Mo Belloumi, popping up on the left, wriggled into a shooting position that ought never to have been there, but hit the side netting from a tight angle.

AERRIAL BOMBARDMENT: Charlie Hughes (second left) and Hull City team-mate Oli McBurnie defend a Millwall ball into the area (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

placeholder image — AERRIAL BOMBARDMENT: Charlie Hughes (second left) and Hull City team-mate Oli McBurnie defend a Millwall ball into the area (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

Millwall had more of the ball and tried to bombard the Tigers' penalty area whenever possible. Hull looked good when they pinged the ball around on the floor between midfield and attack in the final third, but both struggled to make cast-iron chances.

Thierno Ballo's shot under pressure from 25 yards was weak, and Femi Azeez's from even further out missed the target.

When Hull let a long ball go through to Azeez, Ryan Giles got in the way of the shot to concede a corner. A Josh Coburn shot was also deflected for a flag kick.

Casper de Norre volleyed wide when a long throw came to him, and a Ballo shot cannoned off Charlie Hughes.

WHY? Regan Slater makes his point towards Charlie Hughes (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

But Hull had their moments too.

McBurnie could not quite get enough on a dangerous Giles cross in the 17th minute, and when the ball came out to Belloumi, his shot was straight at Anthony Patterson. Two minutes later Joe Gelhardt slipped in the area after Regan Slater won the ball high up to spring an attack.

A couple of other similar moves just foundered for the lack of a final ball, such as when McBurnie's pass to Liam Millar was cut out with the crowd expectant.

Hull took more initiative after the break, but the game remained too close to call.

GET A GRIP: Ryan Giles clings onto Femi Azeez (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

Zak Sturge shot straight into the arms of Ivor Pandur after Azeez spread the play nicely and Neghli had a shot charged down.

At the other end Lewie Coyle let fly with a shot which whistled just over. Tristan Camara's shot from distance was thumped equally hard, but very wildly.

When Belloumi fought his way through, Joe Gelhardt's touch let him down. It was no great shock when the on-loan Leeds United forward was substituted.

Both sides made positive changes to find the breakthrough, and either side of Hull bringing on fresh wingers, Neghli struck a post then McBurnie glanced a cross from Yu Hirakawa, the Japan international's first involvement, beyond the far post.

Pandur got down well and showed a strong hand to keep out an Azeez effort and just when Millwall looked to have opened Hull up, Neghli's shot was smothered.

The Dutchman thought he had won it in the 86th minute, but Gavin Ward's whistle had blown before he found the net.

By the end, the two sets of fans were throwing objects at one another across the segregation line down the East Stand. They seemed to carry more threat than anyone on the field.

Hull City: Pandur; L Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Giles; Slater (Lundstram 87), Crooks; Belloumi (Joseph 70), Gelhardt (Dowell 74), Millar (Hirakawa 70); McBurnie.

Unused substitutes: Ajayi, Phillips, Gyabi, Koumas, McNair.

Millwall: Patterson; Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge (Doughty 82); Mazou-Sacko, De Norre (Bannan 74); Azeez, Neghli, Ballo (Cundle 74); Coburn (Ivanovic 84).

Unused substitutes: McNamara, Mitchell, Crocombe, Langstaff, Watso.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).