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Having been reinstated after Southampton's disqualification over the 'Spygate' scandal, Middlesbrough saw goalkeeper Sol Brynn spill a cross from Yu Hirakawa with extra-time looming, allowing McBurnie to poke the ball into an unguarded net and spark wild celebrations.

Hull owner Acun Ilicali said before kick-off that the Tigers would launch a legal challenge if they were to lose the game, believing they should have been automatically awarded promotion, but they can now prepare for a first top-flight campaign since 2016-2017 without needing to go to the courtroom.

After all the explosive build-up, the first half of the game was a slow burner in stifling heat, with a wayward David Strelec header the only real chance until the 42nd minute.

The contest then burst into life right before the interval, with Mohamed Belloumi curling off-target and McBurnie clattering the crossbar with a diving header for Hull, while Strelec dragged wide for Boro after a bustling run into the area.

Kim Hellberg's team should have gone ahead three minutes into the second half, when Dael Fry passed up a glorious headed chance, before Hayden Hackney came off the bench for his first appearance since March, having recovered from a groin injury.

Hackney slipped in Sontje Hansen to draw an excellent save from Ivor Pandur, though the offside flag went up in any case, and after Joe Gelhardt shot wide on the swivel at the other end, the fourth official signalled for a minimum of eight additional minutes.

Five minutes into stoppage-time, Hirakawa drove down the left flank to cross, and when Brynn could not hold it, McBurnie was on hand to end Hull's nine-year Premier League exile.

The day was doubly miserable for Australia international Riley Mcgree, who limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after 75 minutes.