Ryan Leonard (left), of Millwall, is challenged by Hull City's Liam Millar during the Championship play-Off semi-final first Leg at MKM StadiumGetty Images

Millwall's Ryan Leonard (left), who had a goal disallowed, is challenged by Hull City's Liam Millar at MKM Stadium

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport England reporter at MKM Stadium

Hull City and Millwall played out a goalless draw in a physical first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at the MKM Stadium.

The home side nearly scored inside the first two minutes when forward Mo Belloumi cut in from the left and hit a shot at a tight angle that hit the outside of the near post.

Camiel Neghli's long-range effort skimmed the post on its way wide as the Lions pushed for an opener, and Oli McBurnie was not quite able to make a solid connection on a Yu Hirakawa cross down the other end as the game opened up in the final 20 minutes.

Femi Azeez tested Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur after coming in off the right and Ryan Leonard did have the ball in the net for the visitors in the final five minutes, but it was ruled out for a foul by Tristan Crama on Charlie Hughes.

The two teams meet at The Den in the second leg on Monday.

Stage set for second leg

In a raucous atmosphere, the game started at a ferocious pace, with Millwall launching a forward foray in the opening 60 seconds before the home side nearly took the lead a minute later after tricky play from Belloumi.

Thereafter, it was the away side who had the better of possession but could not really create a chance of note in the first half despite breaking through Hull's midfield on numerous occasions.

The Tigers tightened up in the second half in terms of defensive structure but continued to struggle to link up in an attacking way.

The match was drifting before Neghli's shot from distance nearly creeped into the bottom corner of the Hull net.

Hirakawa almost had an immediate impact after his introduction in the second half when his cross from the left was just glanced wide by the hard-working McBurnie moments later.

Leonard thought he had given the away side a precious lead to take back to the capital but referee Gavin Ward, who had let a lot of physical play go throughout the game, blew for a foul.

That was as close as either side got to scoring and both teams were content not to risk too much in the final minutes.

Disallowed goal 'clear foul' - Hull City reaction

Jakirovic: 'A very tough, very difficult fight'

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic said:

"It was very tough, a fight for every ball and every challenge.

"Maybe we had the best chance in the game through Mo Belloumi, and after [that] they were very dangerous from set-pieces and long throw-ins, but I think we handled this.

"It's a fair result. Like I said, nothing will be decided tonight.

"We made a correction at half-time to get closer to them and press like a group."

[On the disallowed goal] "It's a clear foul. I saw that immediately. If you take with the two hands and spin the player around it is a foul."

'We didn't play not to lose' - Millwall reaction

Neil: 'I'm disappointed we didn't score a goal'

Millwall boss Alex Neil said:

"I'd be interested to see what the referee's thoughts on the disallowed goal are because I thought it was quite harsh.

"I thought all in all you could see that that [performance] should give us confidence to try and win the game on Monday.

"We didn't play as if we didn't want to lose, we played like we wanted to try and win the game.

"We need to remember that a lot of our lads haven't really played in this type of match before and the only chance of note they had was right at the start.

"I'm not naive, I think that when we go back to our place Hull are really comfortable soaking up pressure and playing on the counter-attack.

"I thought the atmosphere was good and that's what you get in the game for."

Player of the match

B. Bannan
7.08
9 O. McBurnie
6.32
15 J. Egan
6.30
1 I. Pandur
6.27
4 C. Hughes
6.14
25 M. Crooks
6.02
3 R. Giles
5.89
21 J. Gelhardt
5.79
10 M. Belloumi
5.42
27 R. Slater
5.38
2 L. Coyle
5.36
13 Y. Hirakawa
5.26
7 L. Millar
5.19
26 K. Dowell
4.96
22 K. Joseph
4.95
5 J. Lundstram
4.69
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