Hull City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Mohamed Diame scored the goal that secured Hull’s return to the Premier League, 370 days after they were relegated

A Mohamed Diame wonder strike was enough for Hull City to secure victory in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.

The midfielder’s curling right-footed shot from 25 yards sealed Hull’s immediate return to the Premier League.

Steve Bruce’s side dominated what was a tense affair at times, midfielder Diame striking a post in the first half.

The Owls struggled to impose themselves as their 16-year exile from the top flight was prolonged.

They had a late handball shout turned down when Jeremy Helan’s stoppage-time shot appeared to be blocked by Michael Dawson’s arms.

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Senegal midfielder Diame’s 10th goal of the season was his most important to date in a Hull shirt, with promotion to the Premier League estimated to be worth at least £170m.

The 28-year-old’s moment of magic came when he ran on to Robert Snodgrass’ lay-off and spotted the opportunity to curl in to the roof of the net past the outstretched fingers of Keiren Westwood in the Wednesday goal.

Victory in a third Wembley appearance in three seasons meant Hull joined champions Burnley in bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt, 370 days after they were relegated from the top division.

Bruce’s indifferent Hull deliver

Steve Bruce has won promotion to the Premier League on four occasions – twice with Birmingham (2002 and 2007) and twice with Hull (2013 and 2016)

For Hull, who finished fourth in the regular season and nine points ahead of sixth-placed Wednesday, there was uncertainty over their promotion credentials before kick-off.

They narrowly held on to a three-goal first-leg advantage in their semi-final against Derby and the jitters from that second-leg defeat appeared to dog their performance in the opening 20 minutes.

But, after Wednesday had twice tested goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic from free-kicks, the Tigers rallied.

Diame’s shot off the post and an Abel Hernandez header, which was cleared off the line by Kieran Lee, were followed by another chance, as Moses Odubajo was denied by Westwood’s quick-thinking dash off his line.

Captain Dawson also saw a half-volley blocked by Westwood after the break but it was Diame who secured victory with a sublime winner with 18 minutes remaining.

Spirited Wednesday fall short

Wednesday are faced with a 17th consecutive season outside England’s top division

Head coach Carlos Carvalhal had overseen the reinvigoration of the Owls this season with some of the division’s most eye-catching football.

Following their semi-final victory over third-placed Brighton, Wednesday were well-fancied to upset the form book and return to the top flight for the first time since 2000.

Added to that, they were roared on by a vocal and vibrant contingent of fans in blue and white, who easily outnumbered those in attendance from Hull.

But, after forward Fernando Forestieri and midfielder Ross Wallace had carved out two early chances from free-kicks, their challenge dwindled.

Leading scorer Forestieri was unable to impose himself on the game despite legs tiring towards the end of the match, and Wednesday’s lack of potency in attack proved their eventual shortcoming.

Man of the match: Mohamed Diame (Hull City)

An imperious display from the midfielder, not just for his match-winning goal but for his all-round contribution.

Full of endless running and seemingly popping up in both boxes for Hull, his vision was fittingly the moment to decide a nervous occasion for just more than 70,000 inside Wembley.

He hit the post himself and was almost the provider for a second Hull goal in either half, only for Odubajo and Hernandez to be denied by Wednesday’s last line of defence.

Match stats

• Hull are the 20th team to achieve promotion back to the Premier League after relegation the previous year.


• The team finishing fourth has now been promoted to the Premier League in two of the last three seasons, having failed to do so in any of the previous 15 campaigns.


• Hull have won all 10 games in which Diame scored for them this season.


• Ten of the last 13 Championship play-off finals have been won by a one-goal margin, with eight of them ending 1-0.


• Tom Huddlestone made more passes (51), more tackles (four) and had more touches (70) than any other Hull player.

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Hull City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
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