Match report: Hull City 1-1 Birmingham City

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Match report: Hull City 1-1 Birmingham City

Blues battle back to earn a point on Humberside courtesy of Tomoki Iwata's stunning strike

2026-04-18T17:00+01:00

Tomoki Iwata scored a stunning equaliser as Birmingham City came from behind to earn a point against Hull City.

Blues fell behind in the first half when Joe Gelhardt gave the home side the lead with a deflected shot that beat James Beadle.

But the visitors battled back to earn a share of the points when Iwata struck a fine effort into the top corner with 13 minutes remaining.

The result moves Blues up one place in the table to 14th, while Hull remain sixth despite seeing their lead cut to just two points from Wrexham in seventh with three games to play.

The Tigers - who had won just once in their previous five league games - were looking to consolidate their play in the top six of the Championship, while Blues were aiming to pick up where they left off last weekend as Chris Davies' side returned to winning ways with victory over Wrexham.

And it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams at the MKM Stadium with Jay Stansfield's low effort from just outside the box being comfortably saved by Ivor Pandur in the Hull City goal.

At the other end, Mohamed Belloumi cut in from the right before seeing his curling effort parried away by James Beadle, but with 24 minutes on the clock the home side broke the deadlock.

As Blues looked to break forward, Hull won possession midway inside the visitors' half and as Liam Millar looked to cut in from the left edge of the penalty area, the ball broke kindly in the box and Joe Gelhardt reacted quickest to latch onto it and fire a left-foot shot that took a deflection before beating Beadle.

Hull came close to doubling their lead before the break when a long throw wasn't deal with and Semi Ajeyi's clipped effort was saved by Beadle and a follow-up shot from Oli McBurnie was blocked.

The second half started with Blues dominating possession and territory but struggling to create that clear-cut opportunity to unlock a Hull City defence that was standing firm.

Chris Davies turned to his bench just after the hour mark with Demarai Gray and Marvin Ducksch being introduced, and it was Gray who forced a good save from Pandur on 73 minutes as he cut in from the left and saw his right-foot shot parried away at the near post.

But four minutes later, Blues hauled themselves level in stunning fashion. After good work from Kai Wagner down the left, his cross into the box was cleared only as far as Tomoki Iwata who took a touch before rifling a fierce right-foot shot that arrowed into the top corner.

Hull had a couple of half chances to win it late on as Oli McBurnie's free kick was deflected wide and Semi Ajeyi headed over, but Blues were more than worthy of a share of the points on Humberside.

Hull City: Ivor Pandur, Lewie Coyle (captain), Semi Ajayi, Liam Millar (Lewis Koumas, 75), Oli McBurnie, Mohamed Belloumi (Yu Hirakawa, 83), John Egan, Amir Hadziahmetovic (Kyle Joseph, 87), Joe Gelhardt (Kieran Dowell, 75), Matt Crooks, Paddy McNair (Ryan Giles, 83).

Unused subs: Dillon Phillips, Charlie Hughes, Eliot Matazo, Akin Famewo.

Goal: Gelhardt (24')

Birmingham City: James Beadle, Bright Osayi-Samuel (Ethan Laird, 50), Phil Neumann, Christoph Klarer (captain), Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Tomoki Iwata, Carlos Vicente (Paik Seung-Ho, 90), Ibrahim Osman (Demarai Gray, 63), Jay Stansfield (Marvin Ducksch, 63), August Priske (Alex Cochrane, 90).

Unused subs: Ryan Allsop, Jack Robinson, Tommy Doyle, Patrick Roberts.

Goal: Tomoki Iwata (77')

Referee: Stephen Martin

Attendance: 22,706