City were held after late drama which denied them a fourth straight win for the first time in four years
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
09:00, 26 Oct 2025
Barry Cooper
Barry is the Hull City correspondent, and previously covered Nottingham Forest for the Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live. Barry has reported on Hull City's League One title success and Championship campaigns
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic at the MKM Stadium
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Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic at the MKM Stadium(Image: Pro Sports Images)
Hull City looked to be on course for a fourth consecutive Championship win after Joe Gelhardt slammed in the opener against Charlton Athletic at the start of the second half, but Luke Berry's close-range finish in added time earned Charlton Athletic a point on Saturday.
A gritty, professional display from City appeared enough to bag a fifth home win and move them into the top six, before a defensive lapse in concentration from a James Bree corner after 91 minutes meant the Tigers had to settle for a point.
It was, however, a point that ensured they remain unbeaten in their last five games and sit outside the top six on only goal difference after what can be considered a tremendous start to the season under Sergej Jakirovic.
Here's a look at the top talking points from the game...
City's tough lesson
Make no mistake about it, this was two points dropped for the hosts who should have seen it out. Ivor Pandur's decision to come and flap at the ball into the box instead of either catching or punching the ball away left City in real danger, and so it proved.
For 90 minutes, this was a gritty, ugly performance, albeit a professional one at that, against a side in terrific form and full of confidence after winning 3-0 at Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
Having battled hard and looked relatively comfortable for much of the game after the opening 10 minutes, City did ever so well to get that crucial first goal and get in front. Though they fluffed numerous openings after going in front, it felt like they were keeping Charlton at arm's length in the closing stages, until Pandur's flapping and Gelhardt fell asleep at the corner.
It's a harsh lesson for City, who must learn from this. Moments like this in the Championship can happen, but the Tigers must take it on the chin and move on.
Sergej's change in shape
There were plenty of raised eyebrows when the City boss opted to be a tad more conservative against Charlton by deploying three central defenders and wing-backs.
While it took City 20 minutes or so to get going and find their way, it actually worked fairly well and allowed the excellent Ryan Giles and Cody Drameh to get forward, though perhaps it left them a little short on the flanks away from those two.
For 90 minutes, the system did its job and almost got the Tigers all three points, until a defensive lapse in concentration occurred, and that had nothing to do with the setup.
A very good week
While that result will feel like a defeat in some ways for City and their fans, it's important to put it in perspective. In this week alone, the Tigers have taken seven points from nine. Yes, two of those have been at home, but it's a mark of how well they've been doing that we're all disappointed with not winning all three games.
Three-game weeks post international breaks are notoriously difficult, and we expected the third in that week would, in many ways, be the most difficult.
To come away with something keeps the unbeaten run going and momentum alive. It's now five games without defeat, and 10 points from a possible 12 with games against Sheffield United and Leicester City in there.
City are making great progress, they're eighth in the Championship and only outside the top six on goal difference after 12 games, which represents a fantastic start
The crippling curse
Once again, injuries were the big talking point after the game. It feels like after every game, any positivity generated by a good result is damaged because of a major injury.
Matt Crooks has an ongoing issue which may require surgery, Oli McBurnie remains out, and Liam Millar's thrilling comeback was thwarted when he limped off with a hamstring injury.
So many good players are unavailable to Jakirovic, and while the thought of having them all back is exciting, that prospect feels a long time off, if it ever happens.
City are surely due some luck at some point because losing key players to big, lengthy injuries is nothing new. It's been happening for years.
Missing Oli Mac
Intended as absolutely no slight on Kyle Joseph, who works as hard as anyone I've ever seen and creates moments for others, City are feeling the absence of their star man.
Against Leicester, City got the job done and were a couple of minutes from repeating that feat against Charlton, but Oli McBurnie's absence was felt the most in the second half.
Chances came and went for City, and you feel that had McBurnie been in the side, one of those would have been put away and the game sealed. Any side in this league would miss a player of his quality, and while KJ has worked himself into the ground for the team, the absence of a clinical, ruthless marksman like McBurnie has been felt. City need him back, and they need him back quickly.
On the road again
After a profitable week of games since returning from the international break, City now have a much-needed clear week heading into their next outing, which should help the battered and bruised.
City now head to Norwich next weekend, and quite what will be awaiting their arrival at Carrow Road remains to be seen. Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Swansea left the Canaries mired in the bottom three and Liam Manning under increasing pressure.
He may not be in charge come the weeken,d which could well change the landscape there, before the Tigers head to Pride Park to take on a Derby County side who have won their last two on home soil.
That run of games is rounded off with the visit of Portsmouth to the MKM Stadium, and while you'd never take anything for granted, especially in this league, all three games are against sides 17th or below, and present the Tigers with a big chance to add to their points tally.
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