Hull's hopes of reaching the Sky Bet Championship play‑offs suffered a serious blow when Charlton clinched a 2‑1 win at The Valley, thanks to a second‑half strike from Jayden Fevrier. The Addicks, who had taken the lead through Charlie Kelman's seventh goal of the season, snapped a seven‑match winless streak and mathematically ensured their safety in the division.
John Egan managed to level the scores with a header just before the break, but Hull have now gone six games without a win, collecting only four points from a possible eighteen and slipping further behind Wrexham and the top six. Hull were forced into an early substitution when Eliot Matazo, making his first appearance since suffering an ACL rupture in February 2025, was forced off in the 11th minute. The early change disrupted Hull's rhythm and contributed to the unsettled performance that followed. Charlton opened the scoring in the 20th minute.
Kelman burst down the right, received a perfectly timed through ball from Conor Coady, cut inside past Semi Ajayi and unleashed a low drive into the top‑right corner from the edge of the penalty area. The goal gave the Addicks an early cushion and set the tone for a more disciplined display. Hull began to push forward in the closing stages of the first half, but it was not until the fifth minute of added time that they threatened Thomas Kaminski's goal in any serious way. Joe Gelhardt, the league’s top scorer, saw his effort glance off the post after a cross from Liam Millar.
A defensive lapse by Harry Clarke allowed Hull to equalise just before the interval. Clarke’s misdirected header fell to a corner, and the ball was subsequently headed home by substitute Paddy McNair from a tight angle. Goal‑line technology confirmed the ball had crossed the line before being cleared, giving Hull a 1‑1 scoreline at half‑time.
In the second half, Fevrier produced a superb cross that slipped past Harvey Knibbs, while Gelhardt’s follow‑up was wide after Millar’s earlier shot was blocked. The decisive moment arrived in the 68th minute when Fevrier, on loan from Stockport, dribbled past several defenders before slotting a low left‑footed finish from about 20 yards past Ivor Pandur.
This was Charlton’s first double‑goal performance in a Championship match since 31 January. Hull pressed for an equaliser, with Kaminski making a crucial save from Mohamed Belloumi’s effort. The Tigers, who have not won an away league game in the final match of a season for 19 consecutive campaigns, tried to mount a comeback, but Charlton’s keeper was lucky when a poor punch from him fell to Paddy McNair, whose volley failed to find the target. Lyndon Dykes forced Pandur into a fingertip save, exposing gaps in Hull’s rearguard.
Fevrier had a chance to make it 3‑1 in stoppage time, but the ball was cleared off the line, preserving the final 2‑1 result. After the match, Charlton manager Nathan Jones reflected on the outcome: "It’s one of the biggest achievements of my career, yet there’s a hint of disappointment.
We should be higher up the table. We never make it easy – we miss chances from five or six yards at home, then we score two spectacular goals. The pressure is enormous. The pressure of trying to get promoted is one thing, but the pressure of avoiding relegation is completely different.
If you look at each team in isolation, you’d never sleep because everyone has massive threats. We’re evolving, but we haven’t fully arrived yet.
It’s a relief, not euphoria. At the start of the season I might not have taken this job, but as the season progressed staying up became the first step toward becoming a true Championship side. I’m proud of the players, the club and the staff. What a day – the group always finds a way when it matters." Hull’s Sergej Jakirović was more candid about his side’s plight: "It’s unbelievable that we can’t win a game at this stage.
Every team experiences low points in a season, but this is ours now. Our chances of reaching the play‑offs are tiny – if Wrexham pick up a point it’s over. It’s not mathematically over yet, but hope is thin and we must win our next game. The problem is now out of our hands.
We played much better in the second half; we needed to be brave in the first half and take risks. The goal was perfect, but we can defend better.
We equalised from a corner, which was good because the first half was poor. Their second goal was unacceptable – the player dribbled past three defenders.
We tried everything, but this is football – we missed our chances. Congratulations to Charlton." The match also featured various promotional messages, reminding fans to use Chrome for a better video experience, to download the Sky Sports app, and to watch EFL on Sky via NOW. Additionally, a £250,000 Super 6 prize was advertised, with entries due by 3 pm on Saturday, emphasizing that participation is free of charge.
Overall, Charlton’s win not only secured their safety but also dealt a significant psychological blow to Hull’s dwindling play‑off ambitions, leaving the Tigers with a steep uphill battle to salvage any remaining hopes as the season draws to a close.