Hull City's Hopes Dented by Birmingham's Late Equalizer

A stunning long-range strike from Tomoki Iwata dealt a significant blow to Hull City's Championship play-off aspirations, as Birmingham City secured a 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium. The hosts had taken the lead through Joe Gelhardt's 14th goal of the season, but Iwata's 77th-minute equalizer ensured the visitors earned a valuable point. Hull's failure to win for a fourth consecutive league game has left them just two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham, with both teams having three matches remaining. Gelhardt's 24th-minute opener had given Hull hope of completing a league double over Birmingham, after the Tigers had won 3-2 at St Andrew's in October. However, Iwata's sweetly-struck effort from 25 yards ensured the Blues earned a point, and leaves Hull's play-off hopes hanging in the balance. The result also ended Birmingham's four-game losing streak on the road, and provided a welcome boost to Chris Davies' side. Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic acknowledged the need for his team to be brave in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while Davies praised his team's resilience and character in earning a deserved point.