Hull survive Derby fightback to reach play-off final

London (AFP) – Hull City survived to reach the Championship play-off final on Tuesday despite losing 2-0 at home to Derby County in their semi-final second leg.

Hull’s 3-0 win in the first leg at the weekend left Derby with too much to do in the return at the KC Stadium as Steve Bruce’s side set up a final against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley later this month.

Derby were attempting to turn the tie around against all the odds and the evening started well as they went in front in the seventh minute.

Cyrus Christie did brilliantly down the right and his cross eventually came to former Dundee United striker Johnny Russell, who stabbed home at the second attempt after his initial effort was blocked.

The nerves were jangling among the home fans as Derby went further in front nine minutes before the interval, Andy Robertson poking the ball into his own net after Curtis Davies had deflected a Marcus Olsson cross.

However, Craig Bryson squandered a great chance to square the tie on aggregate at the start of the second half when he failed to turn in an Andreas Weimann cross and Hull held on.

The Tigers, looking to make an immediate return to the Premier League after their relegation last season, will face Wednesday in the final after the Owls beat Brighton and Hove Albion 3-1 on aggregate in the first semi-final.

Leading 2-0 from Friday’s first leg, Wednesday secured progress with a 1-1 draw on England’s south coast on Monday night.