Tigers held by Addicks but unbeaten in five
HEARTBREAK: Charlton celebrate Luke Berry’s late equaliser. Pictures courtesy of Hull City
Hull City 1 - 1 Charlton Athletic
Sky Bet Championship
MKM Stadium
Attendance: 20,804
By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent
Hull City were denied a fourth straight league win for the first time in four years after a late Charlton goal snatched away what would have been another big three points at the MKM Stadium.
City had led from the opening minute of the second half and were largely in control, only for that 91st-minute equaliser to leave fans flat at full-time.
There was one change from the midweek win over Leicester, with John Egan coming in for Liam Millar – the hero of that game and, having just welcomed his third daughter into the world, given a well-earned breather.
Matt Crooks soldiered on through a shoulder injury – which will sideline him for some time when he undergoes surgery on it – while leading scorer Oli McBurnie, nursing a knee injury, was once more out of the picture.
HOT STREAK: Joe Gelhardt bags his third in three games
It was Charlton who began on the front foot, and they could have gone ahead inside two minutes. Tyreese Campbell was denied by an excellent close-range stop from Ivor Pandur, before dragging another effort wide.
But City soon began to settle in and look more composed. A Ryan Giles shot on 15 minutes took a deflection behind, before Joe Gelhardt threaded a brilliant pass through to Crooks, who ran on to it well but fired over from a narrowing angle.
By the 20-minute mark, the Tigers were turning the screw a bit more. Giles whipped in another teasing cross that only just evaded Cody Drameh, then saw a deflected effort win yet another corner.
Addicks keeper Thomas Kaminski twice had to scramble and smother dangerous balls into the six-yard box as Giles continued to cause havoc down the left.
FRUSTRATED: Head coach Sergej Jakirović was denied a fourth straight win but has greatly improved City this season
The visitors, though, held firm and the game began to drift. A wayward Campbell strike into the North Stand summed up a cagey spell in which the atmosphere dipped and neither side truly seized control.
For the first time in weeks, City looked to be matching an opponent not just in intensity but in shape and approach. That suited Charlton more than it suited the home side, who never quite managed to move the game out of second gear before the break.
In the 38th minute, Pandur had to race from his area to snuff out Campbell once more, before saving from Harvey Knibbs on the follow-up.
Charlie Hughes was then booked for a clumsy late challenge on Knibbs right in front of the Charlton dugout – but, quite unlike the touchline fracas at Birmingham, tempers stayed down as Hughes put an apologetic arm around the Charlton man.
IN THE THICK OF IT: Substitute Lewie Coyle contests a hgh ball
Half-time arrived with the contest crying out for a spark – and seconds after the restart, it came.
Macauley Gillesphey made a complete hash of dealing with the ball about 20 yards out, and Gelhardt was there to capitalise. He ran on to the loose ball and had acres of time and space to guide a cool finish into the far corner. Three goals in three games for Joffy – and the MKM finally came to life.
City suddenly looked sharper and more decisive. Giles found Kyle Joseph inside the area, whose powerful shot took a heavy deflection into Kaminski’s arms. Then, on 57 minutes, Regan Slater, Crooks and Amir Hadžiahmetović all saw shots blocked in quick succession during a spell of real pressure. Gelhardt then tested the keeper again from the edge of the box, City now pushing hard to kill the game.
Charlton, though, still carried their own warning signs. Campbell sent a low header wide in the 62nd minute and, despite City’s growing assurance, the second goal refused to arrive.
On 68 minutes, Lewie Coyle and Millar were introduced – but just over ten minutes later Millar was back off, replaced by Darko Gyabi, after pulling up suddenly. Millar left the field and headed down the tunnel, visibly upset and angry.
COMMITMENT: Matt Crooks played through the pain barrier
City regrouped and continued to probe, as Charlton were giving the Tigers a bit too much space in midfield. On one such occasion Slater played in Coyle, and his low cross on 85 minutes was inches behind Enis Destan, who had replaced Joseph to freshen up the attack.
The failure to land the second goal lingered and, sure enough, the Addicks had the last laugh in added time.
In the 91st minute, Pandur spilled a high ball under pressure, conceding a corner. From the delivery, it skimmed off Hughes at the near post and dropped to substitute Luke Berry, who slipped his marker, Gelhardt, and bundled home from close range. Gelhardt put his head in his hands as the ball hit the back of the net.
This was a frustrating result – no disguising that – but there is also perspective. City are now five unbeaten, still lying in eighth place despite missing McBurnie as well as the likes of Lundstram, Belloumi and Matazo.
Sergej Jakirović has City harder to beat, braver on the ball and markedly more confident in their identity. Manage moments like this better, and these draws will become wins.