Tomoki Iwata’s 77th minute stunner cancelled out Joe Gelhardt’s goal as Birmingham City earned a point at Hull City
17:06, 18 Apr 2026Updated 17:21, 18 Apr 2026
Birmingham City’s Tomoki Iwata scores at the MKM Stadium, Hull.
A second half screamer from Tomoki Iwata ensured Birmingham City avoided defeat on the road to dent Hull City’s promotion hopes.
Blues trailed one-nil at half-time at the MKM Stadium after Joe Gelhardt’s opener but they fought back in the second half to earn a point through Iwata’s third Championship goal of the season.
We had to wait almost 18 minutes for the first proper attempt at goal and it arrived through the lively Mohamed Belloumi.
A quick interchange between Belloumi and Gelhardt resulted in the former being slipped in down the right and he gave Kai Wagner the slip before unleashing a shot that James Beadle parried to safety.
The opening goal, which arrived in the 24th minute, was crafted down the other flank. Hull refused to let Blues clear their lines and when Liam Millar was dispossessed on a jinking left-wing run, the ball dropped kindly for Gelhardt inside the box.
Gelhardt’s first-time shot deflected off Phil Neumann and nestled in the far corner of the Blues net.
Hull City’s Joe Gelhardt celebrates scoring against Birmingham City.
Blues were fortunate not to concede another goal when Belloumi’s long throw-in caused chaos inside their box.
Beadle stopped flapping to produce a good save from Oli McBurnie and Neumann was on hand to hack the ball clear behind him.
A flash of quality from Carlos Vicente saw the Spaniard scamper down the right and hang a ball up to the far post that Ibrahim Osman couldn’t guide on target.
Other than that, Blues didn’t do anything to worry Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur in a first half that finished with the Tigers deservedly in front.
They didn’t exactly pepper Pandur’s goal in the second half before Iwata produced the sort of strike that he made his trademark last season.
Wagner’s cross from the left was headed clear by John Egan and Iwata controlled it on the edge of the box before thundering a shot into the top corner.
Hull were inevitably going to have a spell in search of a winner and a key chance fell to Semi Ajayi inside the box in the 87th minute.
Defender Ajayi was probably the last player Hull wanted it to fall to and he skewed a volley wide.
Blues held firm from thereon and sealed a hard-fought draw away from home. We haven’t said that too many times this season.
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James Beadle 5.5
Beadle was quite unconvincing in the first half, albeit he couldn’t have done much about Gelhardt’s goal. He came for a long throw-in that he shouldn’t have and almost landed Blues in trouble and his long distribution isn’t improving.
Bright Osayi-Samuel 6
The right-back conceded possession a few too many times for my liking but he certainly wasn’t taken apart by Hull left-winger Millar in what was an even battle. Osayi-Samuel couldn’t run off a knock and had to be replaced early in the second half.
Phil Neumann 7*
Neumann had a really good tussle with McBurnie, who is another big, physical Championship striker, and the German held his own. The only thing that let Neumann down was his distribution and that has been a theme of his season.
Christoph Klarer 7
On the receiving end of a late challenge from his former teammate Dowell and tried to leave one on him but missed. Klarer also competed against McBurnie on a day where Blues generally defended OK.
Kai Wagner 7
Wagner was given the runaround by Belloumi at times but you can’t knock his quality going forward. He delivered some dangerous crosses, one of which led to Iwata’s equaliser.
Tomoki Iwata 7
Iwata wasn’t particularly tidy in possession at the MKM Stadium and he attempted two shots in the first half that made you wish that he wouldn’t attempt another. His third attempt was a stunning 20-yard strike that found the top corner. If at first you don’t succeed…
Birmingham City’s Tomoki Iwata celebrates scoring at the MKM Stadium, Hull.
Jhon Solis 6.5
Solis was tidier on the ball than Iwata and offered some legs going forward in a stretched first half. The Colombian competed well with an aggressive Hull midfield.
Carlos Vicente 6.5
An industrious performance from Vicente who continues to look more than useful at this level. Some of his runs down the right, and subsequent crosses, deserved to be attacked properly in the middle.
Jay Stansfield 5.5
Stansfield didn’t threaten the goal and that has been a problem during this barren run which now stands at one goal in his last 27 appearances. A frustrated volley wide in the second half after the whistle had blown skimmed Ajayi and almost ignited another mass confrontation between these two teams.
Ibrahim Osman 6
Osman had some good runs down Blues’ left and picked up some good positions that were found by Wagner. Credit to Hull skipper Coyle who handled the on-loan Brighton winger better than most have.
Hull City’s Lewis Coyle (left) battles for the ball with Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman
August Priske 6.5
A mixed bag from the young Dane. He’s a handful for defenders, even experienced ones like Ajayi and Egan, and his touch was smart on a few occasions. However, at this stage, Blues do need him to be more of a goal threat.
SUBS
Ethan Laird (for Osayi-Samuel, 50) 6
A rare outing in his preferred right-back position and Laird was solid defensively.
Demarai Gray (for Osman, 63) 6.5
Gray had some positive carries down the left and inside in one of his better cameos off the bench recently.
Marvin Ducksch (for Stansfield, 63) 6
A couple of good first-time passes got Blues moving in the right direction.
Paik Seung-ho (for Vicente, 90’) N/A
Alex Cochrane (for Priske, 90’) N/A
Not used: Allsop, Robinson, Doyle, Roberts
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