Hull City held Millwall to a 0-0 draw at MKM Stadium in the first leg of their Championship Play-Off Semi-Final tie.
Ryan Leonard broke the deadlock for Millwall in the best chance of a dull contest with a 85th-minute volley, but his goal was disallowed after Tristian Crama had tugged Charlie Hughes to ground as the latter tried to hook the ball clear.
Millwall now host Hull at The Den, London, on Monday 11 May at 8pm BST, in a winners-takes-all showdown to decide who heads through to the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium, which takes place on Saturday 23 May.
Having missed out on automatic promotion by a single point, Millwall began the game on the front foot with an early corner but struggled to trouble Ivor Pandur in the final third throughout the first half.
Hull however almost took a second-minute lead on their first attack moments after Pandur saved a cross from Femi Azeez, with Mohamed Belloumi able to dribble his way to the left post but he smashed his shot wide from a tight angle.
Belloumi saw a further shot wasted in the 17th minute after Ryan Giles’ cross was fumbled by Oli McBurnie across the box, which fell for the Algerian but he struck his shot straight into Anthony Patterson’s arms in the only shot on target in the first half.
Hull continued to enjoy the better opportunities but frustratingly lacked a final touch as Lewie Coyle fired over the bar in the 51st minute.
Millwall’s best chances came from Camiel Neghli as the midfielder first broke forward on a 69th-minute counter-attack which he put wide of the bottom right corner, before he then blazed a shot over the bar ten minutes later.
Hull’s defence however was breached in the 85th minute as Leonard volleyed a cross in past Pandur, but referee – Gavin Ward disallowed the goal after Crama tugged Hughes to the ground.
Neither team eventually found a breakthrough goal which left the tie firmly in the balance ahead of Monday’s second leg at The Den.
Teams
Hull: Ivor Pandur, Lewie Coyle, John Egan, Charlie Hughes, Ryan Giles, Regan Slater (Lundstrum 88′), Matt Crooks, Mohamed Belloumi (Joseph 70′), Joe Gelhardt (Dowell 74′), Liam Millar (Hirakawa 69′), Oli McBurnie
Substitutes: Semi Ajayi, Paddy McNair, Kieran Dowell, Darko Gyabi, Yu Hirakawa, Kyle Joseph, Lewis Koumas, John Lundstrum, Dillon Phillips
Millwall: Anthony Patterson, Ryan Leonard, Tristian Crama, Jake Cooper, Zak Sturge (Doughty 82′), Derek Mazou-Sacko, Casper De Norre (Bannan 74′), Femi Azeez, Camiel Neghli, Thierno Ballo (Cundle 74′), Josh Coburn (Ivanovic 86′)
Substitutes: Barry Bannan, Max Crocombe, Luke Cundle, Alfie Doughty, Mihailo Ivanovic, Macaulay Langstaff, Danny McNamara, Billy Mitchell, Tom Watson
Referee – Gavin Ward