The decision to bring in Hodgson for the last few weeks of the campaign surprised even the man himself, who was back in the dugout 781 days after his previous game in charge of Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
This is his second spell with the Robins, remarkably coming 44 years after his first. That period in the old Division Three in 1982 was also the last time the former England manager had led a team outside the top division in English football.
Bristol City were in the play-offs on Boxing Day, but their form has deserted them in 2026 after key players Anis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner left in January, eventually leading to Gerhard Struber’s departure.
Emil Riis should have put Hodgson’s new team in front inside three minutes when Neto Borges played him in, but he struck the outside of the post.
However, the Robinsdid not have to wait long for the first goal as Max Bird threaded the ball into Twine’s pass and he finished well just inside the area.
But the Addicks fashioned an excellent equaliser after some fine combination play between Dykes and fellow forward Charlie Kelman, with Dykes, who won his 50th Scotland cap in the defeat to Ivory Coast on Tuesday, slotting home the ball in off the far post.
Eile’s first goal since a move from New York Red Bulls proved the winner when he was on hand after Mannion had spilled Twine’s low free-kick.
But there were chances aplenty at both ends in the final half hour with Mannion preventing a clinching third goal.
While at the other end, Radek Vitek produced a superb reaction save to deny substitute Matty Godden as Nathan Jones’ team pushed for a point that would have inched them that little bit closer to Championship safety.
It did not arrive, though, leaving Hodgson to celebrate a memorable return to management.