Charlton Athletic 2-1 Hull City: FLW report as Addicks survive and dent Tigers' play-off dream | OneFootball

FLW report from The Valley for this Championship fixture

Hull City's dismal run of form continued in their bid for the Championship play-offs, with Charlton Athletic defeating them 2-1 at The Valley, securing their survival in the process.

Nathan Jones' side started in tremendous fashion and took the lead when Charlie Kelman bent a fine effort into the far corner after 20 minutes, before Sergej Jakirovic's men were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time through John Egan's header.

Despite looking to come from behind, the Tigers were punished for more lacklustre defending 22 minutes from time when Jayden Fevrier netted his second goal for Charlton on loan from Stockport County.

Charlton Athletic 2-1 Hull City

The first chance of the game came inside four minutes as Semi Ajayi's timely block thwarted Sonny Carey's close-range effort after the Addicks broke from a Tigers corner.

Eliot Matazo, who had previously gone 424 days without a start for the visitors, was then replaced by Paddy McNair after 12 minutes following two stoppages, summing up City's below-par start that almost got worse when Ivor Pandir almost spilled Conor Coady's curling strike into Carey's path for a tap-in.

However, Jones' men would take a deserved lead on 20 minutes when Kelman weaved his way past Ajayi and created the space to curl a stunning effort into the right-hand corner, leaving Pandur with no chance.

After 33 minutes in which they didn't threaten the Reds' backline, Hull's first sign of any threat came when Joe Gelhardt drifted into the box, but he saw his angle for a shot immediately closed down by Lloyd Jones and Macaulay Gillesphey.

Former Charlton loanee, Liam Millar, then sent a tame effort goalwards after the controversial awarding of a Tigers corner that was deflected behind, with a second successive corner coming to nothing, and again, exemplifying a dire first half showing from Jakirovic's team.

After Gelhardt and Carey misfired for either side, after seven minutes of first-half stoppage-time was added, Hull were handed a major lifeline when Egan connected with McNair's deep corner in the final seconds, with Tom Nield eventually confirming the Irishman's header had crossed the line.

The visitors started the second half with much more energy, creating an opportunity in its first minute, although neither of Oli McBurnie or half-time substitute, Mohamed Belloumi, couldn't bundle home Ryan Giles' cross, whilst Gelhardt also forced Thomas Kaminski into a comfortable save.

A fortunate bounce during a fast break from the Tigers then saw Millar and Gelhardt fire wide again, although the Addicks still remained a threat themselves. Lloyd Jones' fine intervention then stopped the Canadian from poking the ball past Kaminski from Belloumi's fine cross on 55 minutes.

However, it was the hosts who retook the lead midway through the second half as Fevrier was given plenty of time to pick the ball up and drift inwards before bending his effort past Pandur from 18 yards out.

With Hull searching for a crucial equaliser in the context of their season, next came a 'head in hands' moment from McNair, who somehow fired wide on the volley despite having an open goal at his mercy from Kyle Joseph's cross five minutes from time.

Although the Addicks missed the chance to put further gloss on their victory after Pandur was sent forward for a Hull corner, they are now safe on 53 points, whilst the Tigers will nervously await the result of Wrexham's trip to champions, Coventry City, in 22 hours time.

FT: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Hull City

Player Ratings

Charlton Athletic

Thomas Kaminski - 7

Collins Sichenje - 6.5 (Burke 28" - 7)

Lloyd Jones - 7.5

Macaulay Gillesphey - 7

Harry Clarke - 6

Conor Coady - 8

Greg Docherty - 7

Jayden Fevrier - 8.5

Harvey Knibbs - 6.5 (Campbell 63" - 6)

Sonny Carey - 6.5 (Chambers 63" - 6)

Charlie Kelman - 7.5 (Dykes 83" - 6)

Unused Subs: W.Mannion, C.Coventry, J.Rankin-Costello, L.Berry, M.Leaburn

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 5.5

Lewie Coyle - 6

Semi Ajayi - 5.5 (Belloumi 46" - 6.5)

John Egan - 7

Ryan Giles - 6 (Koumas 79" - 6)

John Lundstram - 6

Eliot Matazo - 6 (McNair 12" - 7)

Joe Gelhardt - 6 (Slater 70" - 6)

Matt Crooks - 6

Liam Millar - 6.5 (Joseph 70" - 6)

Oli McBurnie - 6

Unused Subs: D.Phillips, C.Hughes, A.Famewo, K.Dowell

Nathan Jones reacts as Charlton survive in the Championship v Hull City

Reacting to the Addicks' survival-clinching win, Jones said: "Well, look, I'm delighted.

Relief is the biggest thing, because I don't think we should have been in this position after the start (to the season).

"We know we're playing in a very difficult league, and we maybe lack a little bit of the quality that others have to put teams to bed and wherever. We've created enough chances in games at home," he added.

Recently we've lost three or four home games consecutively, which we don't normally do, but with a bit more quality we would have and that's the only disappointment right now.

If you'd asked me at the beginning of the season, would I have taken this? I probably wouldn't, but as the season goes on and you, you think, then it's the important thing we have to, to allow us to move forward and do what we want to do next year.

The 1st stage has to be a Championship side, and we've done that," the Welshman stated.

"I'm proud of the group because we've had a tough time, a real tough time this year, but I'm proud of the group, proud of the club, proud of all my staff."

Sergej Jakirovic reacts to Hull City's damaging defeat v Charlton Athletic

Reacting to the Tigers' winless run extending to seven games, Jakirovic said: "I think that we played a lot better second half than the first one. In the first half, we were not so active.

We played just as the half (was about to be) over, and that's it. We (needed to) be brave on the ball, to take responsibility, take risk in some parts of the pitch.

"The (Kelman) goal is perfect, but we can stop this by defending better, and then we equalise from the corner, which is very good for us because we didn't show you anything in the first half," he added.

"And then, with some substitutions, especially Belloumi, we had much better situations through him, and I don't know how many times we entered their box, but we lacked better passes, better decisions that we could score.

"I think (by) 67 minutes we had a lot of pressure on them. You must score the goal in these moments, and then the second goal is unbelievable.

"It is unacceptable that this guy (Fevrier) is alone," Jakirovic stated. He's dribbled through 3 players.

"Of course, he's got the goal, and then we tried everything, but this is football. We missed our opportunities, our chances, and then congratulations to Charlton."

When asked about his side's poor form, Jakirovic responded: "I think that every team in this league has had this moment in the season.

"Unfortunately, we now have this moment, and if you can win one game from 7, everything, it's very clear. But, we must be satisfied with this season in the end.

"Of course, now it's frustrating, but after the season, when you look back, it will be a very good season for us.

"Now, we will see what will happen today, tomorrow, and then we will see if we need something in the last round, but now nothing is in our hands, so we will see," he stated.

Attendance

The attendance at The Valley today was 20,671 and included approximately 2,783 Hull City supporters.