Millwall boss Alex Neil has weighed in on Hull City's electric atmosphere at the MKM Stadium, sending a clear message as the Tigers prepare for the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Monday night.
Neil, who guided his side to a strong third-place finish in the regular season, was full of praise for the Hull City fans' performance in the first leg, which ended in a keenly contested 0-0 draw. The atmosphere, he noted, was 'very good', and he credited both sets of supporters for their efforts.
'I just think it was a bit frantic at the start,' Neil said, referring to the early stages of the game where Mo Belloumi hit the post within two minutes. 'But the atmosphere was very good, and that's what you're in the game for, isn't it?'
However, Neil is under no illusions about the threats Hull City pose, especially away from home. He recalled the league game at The Den in December, where Hull City emerged victorious with a 3-1 score. Neil acknowledges that Hull City is comfortable playing at home, soaking up pressure and hitting the counter-attack.
'We played like we wanted to win the game,' Neil continued, 'but we need to remember that a lot of our players haven't played in these types of matches before. The chances they had were right at the start when Mo Belloumi came inside. Beyond that, I can't remember too much that caused us any issues.'
Neil is aware that Hull City will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and win the game. He emphasizes the importance of quality and getting that first goal to break down Millwall's defense. 'We've just got to have enough quality and make sure we try and get that first goal and break them down,' he said.
The atmosphere at the MKM Stadium has been a key factor in Hull City's success, and Neil is keen for his side to make the most of the home backing on Monday night. 'We've got to make the most of the home backing,' he said. 'If you look at any sort of legs of the play-offs, you'll always say if you've got a leg at home in the second leg, all square, and you've got to go and win it to get through, you would take that every day of the week, wouldn't you?'
Neil believes that the onus is on Millwall to perform well enough to win the game on their home ground, with all the backing from their fans. 'It's up to us to get the job done,' he concluded.
As the tension builds for the second leg, Neil's words serve as a clear warning to Millwall, highlighting the challenges they will face in a hostile away environment. The atmosphere at the MKM Stadium has been a key factor in Hull City's success, and Neil is keen for his side to make the most of the home backing on Monday night.
