WEMBLEY hero Oli McBurnie says it was ‘written’ in the script to grab the winning goal as Hull City returned to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17 with a last-gasp strike to break Middlesbrough’s hearts in stoppage time of the Championship play-off final.

McBurnie, who saw his header clip the crossbar in the opening half, seized upon a poor error from Boro keeper Sol Brynn in the 95th minute to snatch victory for the Tigers amid sweltering conditions.

It was the striker’s 18th goal of the campaign and the only goal of the game as Boro’s Wembley curse continued and extended to a sixth winless game.

On his golden moment, he said: “For the first time ever, I think I am speechless. Listen, it’s been a long, hard season and I think that game summed us up.

Hull City's Oliver McBurnie celebrates with the trophy after winning promotion to the Premier League following the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

placeholder image — Hull City's Oliver McBurnie celebrates with the trophy after winning promotion to the Premier League following the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

"We knew we weren’t going to come in and have hold of the ball. I don’t think we’ve had a game this year where we’ve had more of the ball than the opposition.

"It was tough out there with the heat and Middlesbrough are a top, top team and we knew we were going to be right up against it.

"We felt we were going to have one chance and it was written for me to get it.

"I didn’t think it would be like that late on, but what a feeling."

Hull City's Lewis Coyle lifts the trophy after winning promotion to the Premier League following the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire.

Meawnhile, Tigers captain Lewie Coyle paid tribute to his late father Chris, having looked up to the heavens ahead of lifting the winning trophy.

Coyle was a well-known figure in the city of Hull, having run a long-established fruit and veg stall before his sudden death in June 2022.

He said: "It's tough. There's just one man I want to celebrate this with. He's not with us. I look up at the sky and I had a look up there today. He's with me, I know he's with me, for sure.

"The next best thing is I have my family, my beautiful partner, my little boy, my brothers and my friend that have been there since day one."