Published May 22, 4:10am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 22, 4:10am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated May 22, 4:10am ET
All eyes will be on Wembley Stadium on May 23, as the richest game in club soccer will see Middlesbrough and Hull collide in the Championship Play-off Final.
It has been a hugely controversial build-up to the clash, with Boro handed their spot in the final following Southampton’s expulsion after spying on their semi-final rivals.
|
|
|---|---|
| Hull | +315 |
| DRAW | +260 |
| Middlesbrough | -120 |
Hull City secured their spot in the play-off final after easing past Millwall in the semi-finals. This weekend, they will be aiming to achieve promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17. The trends certainly favor their chances, as they have won both previous play-off finals that they have been involved in.
However, finishing sixth in the Championship hasn’t normally boded well in the play-offs, as the Tigers will be aiming to become just the second team since Blackpool in 2009-10 to finish in the final play-off spot to gain promotion to the top-flight.
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It has been a challenging period for Middlesbrough, and their promotion hopes appeared to have ended following defeat against Southampton in the semi-finals. However, the Saints were later thrown out of the competition after being caught spying on their opponents.
Therefore, a second chance of promotion has arrived. Boro sat second in the Championship standings for the majority of the Championship campaign, but a run of just two wins in ten saw them drop to fifth.
| TOTAL | Hull | Middlesbrough | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 31 | 11 | 15 | 5 |
| Goals | 93 | 42 | 51 |
Hull have been collateral damage in the fallout from the Middlesbrough vs. Southampton spygate scandal. The Tigers had spent a week preparing for a clash with the Saints, before Boro being reinstated hands the advantage to their opponents. Therefore, further problems for the EFL could arise, with Boro winning on Saturday. However, it is unlikely to be the end of the Play-off story, as the Tigers are already threatening legal action.
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Pick
Middlesbrough (-120)
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