Hull City vs Sheffield Wednesday: Championship Play-off Final Preview & Prediction

Hull City face Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, with a lucrative spot in the Premier League on offer to the winners. 

Promotion to the top flight is now said to be worth £170million, and both clubs will know the significance, especially financially, of coming out on top in the capital.

Hull are looking for an instant return to the Premier League following relegation in 2015, while the Owls are looking to perform among England’s elite clubs for the first time since they went down in 2000.

Despite a convincing 3-0 win away at Derby in the first leg, the Tigers were beaten 2-0 at home by the Rams in what turned out to be a nervy second leg of their play-off semi-final at the KC Stadium, and they will know that they need to perform better than that on the big stage.

The Owls were slightly more comfortable, beating third-placed Brighton, who only finished behind Middlesbrough on goal difference, 2-0 at Hillsborough, before picking up a 1-1 draw on the south coast.

When looking at the two fixtures between the sides this season, which ended 1-1 and 0-0 respectively, you could be forgiven for thinking that it will be another tight affair at Wembley, especially with seven of the last nine Championship play-off finals finishing 1-0.

However, history certainly isn’t with Steve Bruce’s side, with only one team who ended the season in fourth position going up in the last 17 years – QPR in 2014.

That said, no team since Blackpool in 2010 has been promoted after finishing sixth – as Carlos Carvalhal’s men did this term, nine points adrift of their opponents on Saturday.

Team News:

Hull boss Steve Bruce only has one injury concern, with goalkeeper Allan McGregor doubtful with a back problem, with Eldin Jakupovic likely to deputise as he did in the play-off semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Wednesday have a fully-fit squad to choose from although Sam Hutchinson, who impressed as a second half substitute against the Seagulls, could partner Kieran Lee in midfield.

League Position: Hull City – 4th (83 pts); Sheffield Wednesday – 6th (74 pts)
Previous Meeting: Hull City 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday (February 26, 2016)
Form: Hull City – DWLWWL ; Sheffield Wednesday – DDWLWD
Key Men: Hull City – Abel Hernandez; Sheffield Wednesday – Fernando Forestieri
Shoot Says: Hull City 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday

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