Hull City v Middlesbrough: Championship set for unique play-off final after Spygate drama

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic did not hold back when asked where he felt the anger surrounding Southampton’s activities was heading for his side.

“You can tell everything has been unfair in the last two weeks. You don’t know what’s going on,” he told BBC Radio Humberside.

“We’ve suffered collateral damage because we’re waiting [an] It’s your opponent and you don’t know what’s going on.”

Tigers, who secured their place in the play-off final by beating third-place Millwall last Monday, have been the surprise package of the league this season.

The East Yorkshire outfit avoided relegation to League One on goal difference last May before appointing former Bosnia international Jakirovic as their new boss.

They were subsequently subject to a three-window transfer embargo, which was reduced to two following a successful appeal, with few dismissing them as promotion contenders.

However, they disappointed these expectations and spent the majority of the season in the top six.

The Tigers were in automatic contention at the end of March, only for a six-game stretch in April, leaving them in seventh place going into the final day.

Victory at home against Norwich City and Boro’s draw at Wrexham meant they returned to the play-off spots when it mattered most and reached Wembley by beating the Lions, who finished three places and 10 points ahead of them.

Hull, seeking a third win in the third Championship play-off final, will be without striker Kyle Joseph, who was injured in the win over Millwall.