Hull City striker Oli McBurnie said he “felt it was written” for him to score the winning goal in the Championship play-off final.
McBurnie netted in the 94th minute at Wembley to send the Tigers into the Premier League next season.
With just minutes of the match remaining, the 29-year-old lashed home from six yards to send the Hull players and travelling fans into raptures at the end of what had been up to that point a largely unremarkable contest.
Much of the pre-match coverage had concerned Hull’s opponents Middlesbrough and their reinstation in the final following revelations that Southampton – who had beaten Boro in the semi-final – had spied on their opposition.
However, McBurnie ensured Hull would be the talking point at full-time, admitting his team were “going to be right up against it” during the match.
“For the first time ever I think I’m speechless,” McBurnie told Sky Sports.
“It’s been a long, hard season and I think that game today summed us up. We knew we weren’t going to have all of the ball, I don’t think we’ve won a game this year when we’ve had more of the ball than the opposition.
“It was tough with the heat and Middlesbrough are a top, top team. We knew we were going to be right up against it but we felt we’d have one chance and I just felt it was written for me to get it.
“What a feeling.”
‘We suffered a lot’
Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic echoed his player’s jubilation, describing the feeling at the final whistle as “amazing”.
But he also admitted his side “suffered a lot” during the contest.
He said: “It’s an amazing feeling. I still cannot believe that we did it.
“We suffered a lot all game. They [Middlesbrough] are really good with the ball and they had some clear chances.
“We had some good chances and after 50 minutes we changed out shape. You wait for your opportunity and it was very good.”
