Hull City 1-1 Bristol City: Robins miss out on Championship play-off spot
- Published
Hull have only lost once at home in the Championship since being beaten by Nottingham Forest on 24 November
Bristol City missed out on a place in the Championship play-offs after drawing with Hull City on the final day of the season.
The Robins needed to win, Derby to lose and Middlesbrough to drop points to stand a chance of snatching sixth place.
But victories for both the Rams, who will face Leeds in the play-offs after claiming the last place, over West Brom and Boro at Rotherham meant that Lee Johnson's side were never in the hunt.
Jackson Irvine fired Hull in front with a fine left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box 10 minutes into the second half.
But City, who had a potential equaliser from winger Niclas Eliasson ruled out for handball before he stroked home from 10 yards, finally earned a point through Matty Taylor in the last minute of normal time.
Even that goal was tinged with controversy as Taylor was initially judged offside, but it was eventually given by the referee after consulting with his assistant.
Both sides had chances during a goalless first half, with the visitors going closest when Famara Diedhiou headed against the bar from two yards after Josh Brownhill had nodded across goal.
Diedhiou also scooped a shot over from six yards, while at the other end Kevin Stewart fired wide from 25 yards, Fraizer Campbell glanced a header just wide and Jarrod Bowen saw a shot turned round the post by Robins keeper Max O'Leary.
Bowen almost doubled Hull's lead just before Taylor's equaliser when he went through on goal, but O'Leary saved the forward's angled strike well with his legs.
And even then Nouha Dicko almost grabbed an injury-time winner for Hull when he drove into the area and saw his shot hit the top of the bar on its way over.
Bad run at bad time costs Robins
Bristol City looked well placed to reach the Championship play-offs for the first time since 2008, when they lost 1-0 to Hull in the final, back in early April when a 3-2 home win over West Brom saw them sit fifth in the table, four points clear of Middlesbrough and five ahead of Derby with six games to play.
However, an ill-timed run of three defeats, including to play-off rivals Aston Villa and Derby, and a draw saw the Robins slip out of the top six, and they needed Tuesday's victory at Millwall to ensure they took it to the final day.
Head coach Lee Johnson conceded before the trip to Hull that there was an "element of frustration" that his side had lost control of their own destiny and there had been "little moments that we felt we could have altered our path".
But results were never in their favour on the final day and they end the season in eighth, three places better off than the previous campaign, while Hull finish 13th.
There was post-match speculation about the future of both respective head coaches.
City boss Johnson again brushed off reports linking him with West Bromwich Albion, while Hull boss Nigel Adkins has not only his own expiring contract to decide on, but also on 12 of his players, whose future at the club remain unresolved.
Hull City head coach Nigel Adkins:
"I'm honoured to be the Hull City head coach. Earlier in the season we were bottom of the league and the fans weren't chanting my name then.
"But, through the ups and downs, we've all stuck together.
(On contract talks) "That should get resolved soon. I've had a couple of good meetings.
"Whether I'm here or not, it's important you've still done the right things for he football club to try to progress."
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:
"It's been 46 games and we just fell short. It has been a good progression again from a wonderful football club.
"Nobody fancied us at the start of the season and we've taken it to the last game. I was getting updated with results but we still wanted to win.
"That leaves us looking at next season, taking all the positives and hopefully taking it one step forward next season.
"Bristol City is a fantastic club. This is my team, my club if you like, and I'm solely focused on driving it forward."
- Published3 May 2019
