There will be three additional minutes after that early injury to Lukas Engel.

Aren't we lucky?

Millwall

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall manager Alex Neil speaking to BBC Radio London:

"I learned a lot in the fact we've not been the type of team who dominates the ball, and you can see that, and you can hear that.

"The minute we were maybe making two or three passes along the back, there was a little bit of agitation in the crowd.

"I think for all the volume, our opportunities we had in wide areas – I looked at the stats and we had double the amount of final-third entries, we had double the amount of touches in the box – we just didn't have that killer instinct to get the goal when we needed it.

"You could see the disappointment in the lads after the game, where we've lost a match. I didn't think it was a poor performance, I thought there were some really good bits to like about it, but there's certainly stuff for us to work on."

Most of Boro's best stuff has come down the left with Lukas Engel flying down the flank and whipping a couple of crosses into the middle, but they haven't managed to capitalise on any of them yet.

You hope to see fireworks to kick-off a New Year but this one has smouldered and fizzled out like a Catherine Wheel left in the shed for the past year.

Few minutes until the break, can either side spark it back into life?

Coventry

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry manager Frank Lampard speaking to BBC Radio CWR: "We got level early in the second half, they went down to 10 men so you want all three points. We created chances which we should take. That was frustrating.

"They protected their goal, we made changes. We could have done more to score; I was pleased with the reaction because the first half was too slow and not good enough for us.

"Ellis [Simms] can be a handful. He came in and helped with the goal; we know he can score goals. We know he can do more, like everyone. When you come in with our position what it was, it isn't going to be a quick fix. If you perform like we did in the first half, you'll lose every time.

"We need to go again. We've got a draw, we got a reaction. But a reaction against Norwich is important."

Ivor Pandur called into action more earnestly this time as Riley McGree spins outside the box and strides forward before lashing in a curling strike from 25 yards which is destined for the roof of the net until the keeper gets a strong palm over the bar.

The subsequent corner from McGree is far less powerful and fails to beat the first man.

Mike White
Commentator on BBC Radio Humberside

The game is flat, nearly half an hour gone and there's nothing to talk about.

Ruben Selles has spoken about how he wants his team to do more and be more aggressive.

The game hasn't burst into life yet.

Emmanuel Latte Lath has had a couple of promising runs down the left channel which have come to nothing, this time he gets on the end of the ball and drives towards the box.

City defender Alfie Jones does superbly to keep him on his left foot and guide him wide meaning his low angled shot is straight into the breadbasket of Ivor Pandur at his near post.

A shot on target, at least...

Just a reminder, as this game tries to spark into life, that we'll have reaction from a host of Championship managers to bring you during the half-time interval at the MKM so stick around... a big day in the division already, and it could get even bigger...

Anfernee Dijksteel wins a Boro free-kick in a dangerous area allowing Daniel Barlaser to whip one in from the right, but the City defence are able to deal with it initially, before Lukas Engel's left-wing cross deflects behind for a corner off Joao Pedro... off his hand, actually, but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Another sight of goal for Boro's Finn Azaz who opts to try a shot from 20 yards rather than playing it into Emmanuel Latte Lath in the box, only to get too much on his rising effort and fizz ir over the bar.

He's good enough to have tested the keeper there...

Joe Pedro has been drifting left and right for Hull up top, causing the defence some problems.

The veteran is just a fraction slow to latch onto a through ball though and barges Rav van den Verg to the ground as he comes across to challenge him... free-kick, all ends up.

Down the other end and Lewie Coyle makes a strong challenge on Isaiah Jones in the City box but muted appeals for a penalty are waved away by ref Leigh Doughty.

Boro almost gift Hull an opener as Rav van den Berg concedes possession to Gustavo Puerta who finds Mason Burstow on the left of the area, though his attempt to cut inside and fire across goal is blocked.

City midfielder Steven Alzate then makes the most of some space to drift forward and lash a swerving, dipping shot a yard past Tom Glover's left post with the keeper at full stretch.

Dael Fry is making his 250th appearance for Boro, his hometown club tonight, the first night of 2025. His first came as a 17-year-old back in August 2015.

The lively start to this one has rather fizzled out, though Boro are at least back to a full compliment with Lukas Engel back on the left.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

The game has become really scrappy, there's been no control from either side.

Boro have have gone long quite a few times now, they (Hull) look really nervy on the ball.

Boro's Daniel Barlaser picks up an early caution after a high boot on Gustavo Puerta in midfield.

Puerta has made a busy start to this game, though City waste the subsequent free-kick.

Lukas Engel is back on his feet and walking off to the far side, very gingerly, admittedly. No sign of a change yet.

Hull continue with a long throw into the box but the Boro defence are able to clear their lines, despite being a man short.

An impromptu team talk on the touchline for both sets of players as Lukas Engel gets treatment. Neto Borges on the bench is a like-for-like replacement, but they want to give Engel time to see if he's picked up a concussion from that collision.

Lewie Coyle is operating on the left for City today but swings in a delicious cross with his left peg, which just evades Adbus Omur in the middle.

The hosts win a corner which is eventually cleared to Coyle 25 yards out but his rasping effort is charged down.

The ball is swung back into the box where Tom Glover flies off his line to get a good punch on the cross, only to wipe out teammate Lukas Engel in the process. He'll need some treatment for that...

They nearly get their rewards...

Isaiah Jones closes down Sean McLoughlin who has no out ball in his own box and ends up in a real mess on the deck, with the ball breaking to Finn Azaz who can only lash over the angle of post and bar. He wants a corner, but doesn't get one.

The Tigers living dangerously once again...

Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside

I think City should look to dominate possession a bit more and make sure their passing is fluent.

They have definitely got the players to do it, I just want them to be confident tonight.