Hull City emerged from the chaos of the Championship play-offs to beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the ‘Spygate’ final at Wembley and seal a return to the Premier League. Oli McBurnie struck in stoppage time to fire the Tigers back to the top-flight after nine years.
McBurnie’s goal meant heartbreak for Middlesbrough, the side who came in from the cold after Southampton were thrown out of the play-offs for spying on them.
It also avoided the threat of more litigation from Hull, whose owner Acun Ilicali vowed to take legal action if his side were not promoted. His contention was that Hull should have gone up automatically when Saints were expelled, rather than face the team who had lost the semi-finals.
In the end if was McBurnie who settled the matter by scoring their third Championship play-off final winner, emulating the Dean Windass-inspired side of 2008 and Mohamed Diame’s class of 2016.
Here are The Yorkshire Post’s player ratings from Wembley Stadium.
1. Hull City and Middlesbrough player ratings
The ratings are in following Hull City and Middlesbrough's Championship play-off final battle. | John Walton/PA Wire
2. Ivor Pandur - 7
One theatrical parry was all he had to do in the first period. Protected well. | Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
3. Semi Ajayi - 7
Made one important clearance to thwart Strelec in the first half. An in-order, sound performance. | Adam Davy/PA Wire
4. Charlie Hughes - 7
Redoubtable at the back as he has been all season. Strelec got little change out of him. | Adam Davy/PA Wire