Ladbrokes previews Hull vs Millwall in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg
Oli McBurnie is tipped for a shot on target with Matt Crooks shown a yellow card
Both teams are backed to score in the first leg with the match ending in a draw
The much-anticipated Championship play-offs kick off on Friday night as Hull City host Millwall in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Hull kept their Premier League dream alive on the final day after sneaking back into the top six by beating Norwich 2-1, leapfrogging Wrexham into the final play-off place following their draw with Middlesbrough.
Millwall narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the top flight by a point to Ipswich, meaning they will have to do it the hard way to reach the promised land for the first time.
Check out our in-depth preview for the first leg, including our Hull vs Millwall bet builder as well as lineups and predictions. Millwall are 11/8 favourites for victory away from home, with a Hull win priced at 2/1 and a draw 9/4.
Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Patterson / Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge / Bannan, De Norre / Azeez, Neghli, Ballo / Ivanovic
Hull vs Millwall bet builder tips
Oli McBurnie to have 1+ shots on target
Striker Oli McBurnie comes into the game on a high after scoring both goals to lift Hull out of their six-game slump by beating Norwich and he is undoubtedly the danger man up top for the Tigers.
That brace took his tally for the season to 17 goals, his best goal return since 2018-19 for Swansea, and with an average of one shot on target per game in the league this term, he feels like a sure-fire pick to test the keeper here.
Matt Crooks to be shown a card
We are predicting a feisty game with plenty of physicality in the centre of midfield and that's why we've picked out Matt Crooks for a yellow card in this game.
The 32-year-old already has 13 bookings to his name from the regular season and commits 2.1 fouls per game, so we think he looks like the prime pick in the cards market.
Both teams to score
While Millwall's defensive record is impressive, both teams have scored in 65% of Hull's games this season, including in seven of their eight games during the run-in.
Hull will know they likely need to get at least a goal while home advantage is on their side, but it also looks a difficult task to keep Millwall from scoring on the night.
Match to end in a draw
After arresting a slump in form to sneak back into the top six, Hull will be on a high and may have the edge over Millwall, who won just three of their last nine games during the run-in to miss out on the top two by only a point. That said, the visitors ran out 3-1 winners in this fixture during the regular season in March so know they are capable of getting a result.
Alex Neil's side had the best away record of any side in the Championship this season, conceding just 24 goals, so we're predicting a hard-fought draw between these two teams in the first leg, leaving it all to play for in the second leg on Monday at The Den.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a Hull vs Millwall Bet Builder.
With Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet with selections not only with other football matches, but also with different sports.
When is Hull vs Millwall?
Hull vs Millwall takes place on Friday, May 8, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Where can I watch Hull vs Millwall?
Hull vs Millwall will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Can you bet on Hull vs Millwall?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Hull vs Millwall markets, including match result, both teams to score and goalscorers.
