Hull City 0 – 0 Millwall

Hull City and Millwall played out a goalless draw to leave their Championship play-off semi-final first leg on a knife edge.

A largely lopsided encounter at MKM Stadium on Friday night briefly looked like it was settled late on by Ryan Leonard, only for the effort to be disallowed after a foul in the build-up.

It left us all square heading to the den for the second leg.

Will ‘hard’ disallowed goals prove decisive?

Indeed, the only real talking point from the first leg was the late disallowed goal, in which Leonard put the ball into the back of the net, before Charlie Hughes was sent off for a foul on Tristan Kramer just before the ball reached the scorer.

Referee Gavin Ward was decisive in blowing his whistle, suggesting he believed Hughes had unfairly obstructed his attempt to reach the ball.

“It was really soft,” said Millwall boss Alex Neil Sky Sports. “Both boys were in it so it will be interesting to hear (the referee’s) thoughts when he looks back on it.

“I understand why he saw it (as a foul), but it’s difficult if both players are involved.

“To be honest, he gave up a lot throughout the game, so it wasn’t too much stop-start. I’m sure he’ll think it was a foul, but it will be interesting to hear his opinion.”

In the other dugout, Hull boss Sergej Zakirovic believed the right decision had been made.

“It was a clear foul,” he said Sky Sports. “There was a lot of pulling and pushing, so it’s a foul according to the rules.

“If you spin a player, pull him or push him with two hands, it’s a foul. I know this situation is always difficult in the Championship, but we’re used to it and we move on.”

Don Goodman said Sky Sports Football: “It’s a big moment. It looks like a bit of reciprocity between Krama and Hughes. It’s a big call.

“Millwall may think it’s a bit harsh. But it’s the final shock from the order that looks decisive.”

The first leg stalemate gets the better of both

Sky Sports EFL editor Simeon Golam:

It seems, for the most part, the occasion has won out. Nerves from both sides were jangled, tension overcame and it was a non-event on Friday night at the MKM Stadium.

But it leaves the tie on a knife edge. Hmmm, despite their goalless draw in their home leg, you won’t be entirely disappointed.

Both of these sides have looked sharper away from home this season, and both beat the other in the regular season.

Monday night rolls in where, at the very least, we will be guaranteed a result drama.