Hull City's ambitions for a Championship play-off spot were dealt a significant blow as Tomoki Iwata's stunning equalizer helped Birmingham secure a 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium. Joe Gelhardt had given the Tigers a first-half lead with his 14th goal of the season, but Iwata's long-range effort 13 minutes from time ensured the visitors earned a point.
Hull's failure to win extends their winless run to four league games, their worst sequence of the season, leaving them just two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham with three matches remaining. Gelhardt's 24th-minute strike had given Hull hope of completing a league double over Birmingham, after they won 3-2 at St Andrew's in October. However, Iwata's sweetly-struck equalizer means Hull must regroup and focus on their remaining fixtures to revive their play-off push.
The draw also ended Birmingham's four-game losing streak on the road, with manager Chris Davies praising his team's resilience and commitment. Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic acknowledged the need for his team to be brave and capitalize on their chances in the remaining games to secure a play-off spot.