Hull City's Play-Off Hopes Dented by Birmingham's Late Equaliser

Hull City's aspirations for a Championship play-off spot have been dealt a significant blow after Birmingham City secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium. The hosts had taken the lead through Joe Gelhardt's 14th goal of the season, but Tomoki Iwata's stunning long-range effort 13 minutes from time ensured the visitors earned a valuable point. The result extends Hull's winless run to four league games, leaving them just two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham with three matches remaining. Gelhardt's 24th-minute strike had given Hull hope of claiming a league double over Birmingham, after they had won 3-2 at St Andrew's in October. However, Iwata's equaliser and Semi Ajayi's missed opportunity in stoppage time meant the Tigers were forced to settle for a draw. The result leaves Hull's manager, Sergej Jakirovic, aware that his side must be brave in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while Birmingham's Chris Davies was encouraged by his team's resilience and character. With three games left to play, the battle for a top-six finish is set to intensify, and Hull will need to regroup and refocus if they are to achieve their goal.