Hull City’s poor form continued in their quest for the Championship play-offs, as Charlton Athletic defeated them 2-1 at The Valley, sealing their survival in the process.

Nathan Jones’ side started brilliantly and took the lead after 20 minutes when Charlie Kelman bent a wonderful strike into the far corner, but Sergej Jakirovic’s men were given a lifeline on the stroke of half-time by John Egan’s header.

Despite their efforts to come from behind, the Tigers were punished for poor defending 22 minutes from time when Jayden Fevrier scored his second goal for Charlton on loan from Stockport County.

Charlton Athletic 2-1 Hull City

The opening chance of the game came after four minutes, when Semi Ajayi’s crucial block denied Sonny Carey’s close-range shot after the Addicks broke from a Tigers corner.

Eliot Matazo, who had gone 424 days without a start for the visitors, was replaced by Paddy McNair after 12 minutes following two stoppages, summing up City’s poor start, which nearly worsened when Ivor Pandir almost spilled Conor Coady’s curling strike into Carey’s path for a tap-in.

Jones’ men would grab a merited lead on 20 minutes, as Kelman threaded his way past Ajayi and found space to curl a superb effort into the right-hand corner, giving Pandur with no chance.

After 33 minutes of not threatening the Reds’ backline, Hull’s first threat came when Joe Gelhardt moved into the area, but his shot was blocked by Lloyd Jones and Macaulay Gillesphey.

Former Charlton loanee Liam Millar then launched a feeble shot goalwards following the contentious awarding of a Tigers corner that was diverted behind, with a second consecutive corner coming to naught, exemplifying Jakirovic’s team’s poor first half performance.

After Gelhardt and Carey both missed chances, Hull were given a crucial lifeline when Egan connected with McNair’s long corner in the last seconds, with Tom Nield eventually confirming the Irishman’s header had over the line.

The visitors began the second half with considerably more enthusiasm, producing an opportunity in the first minute, but neither Oli McBurnie nor half-time substitute Mohamed Belloumi could convert Ryan Giles’ cross, while Gelhardt forced Thomas Kaminski into a simple save.

Millar and Gelhardt fired wide after a fortunate bounce during the Tigers’ rapid break, but the Addicks maintained a threat. On 55 minutes, Lloyd Jones made a wonderful intervention to prevent the Canadian from putting the ball past Kaminski following Belloumi’s fine cross.

However, the hosts retook the lead midway through the second half, with Fevrier having plenty of time to pick up the ball and drift inwards before bending his shot past Pandur from 18 yards out.

With Hull looking for a key equaliser in the context of their season, McNair then had a ‘head in hands’ moment, firing wide on the volley despite having an open goal at his mercy from Kyle Joseph’s cross five minutes later.

Although the Addicks lost an opportunity to add gloss to their victory after Pandur was brought forward for a Hull corner, they are now secure on 53 points, while the Tigers will be nervously awaiting the outcome of Wrexham’s trip to champions Coventry City in 22 hours time.

FT: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Hull City

Player Ratings: Charlton Athletic’s 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).