Hull City 1 Charlton Athletic 0: Egyptian leads Tigers towards top of the promotion pyramid

The deadline-day signing prodded home from a 33rd-minute corner to hand Bruce’s side a victory which keeps them in the top two.

Bruce is aware that such a lofty position was not widely anticipated at the start of the campaign, but expects at least one of the automatic promotion places will go to a side who started the season unfancied.

“We were 40-1 outsiders at the start of the season,” said Bruce. “People didn’t give us a hope in hell but we’re there or thereabouts.

“With another week gone, we’re still there. February is nearly gone and we’ll see where we go.

“I can’t see a reason why we can’t go up. We’ve got 14 games to go and we probably have to win seven of them. We’ve got a chance, a good chance, but so do a few others.

“There’s been two outstanding results from Crystal Palace and from Watford, too. Nobody predicted Hull, Palace and Watford would be chasing Cardiff but there we are.

“The Championship is a level playing field. That is the beauty of it, how hard it is.”

The arrival of Gedo has certainly given Hull a shot in the arm.

He scored as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Derby in the previous game and hit the target again on his first start.

Bruce admits life may not always be as rosy for the striker but nevertheless hailed the deal to bring him to the KC Stadium as a “master stroke” for the club.

“He’s had a great start but the big questions we’re all going to ask are can he sustain it and can he adjust to life in England?” said Bruce.

“Just at the right time the chairman has been able to pull off a master stroke. To get someone of his quality is no mean feat.

“They’re a big nation, Egypt. To get a striker of his quality is a terrific feat for us. Let’s hope he continues the way he’s started.”

Charlton struggled for meaningful possession for much of the first hour but began to find their feet in the closing stages.

Bradley Pritchard went close and Danny Haynes had two decent chances, the second forcing a fine save from David Stockdale.

Addicks manager Chris Powell said: “We didn’t start off the right way and we paid the price with a poor goal but we gradually got into it and soldiered on.”

Hull City: Stockdale, Chester, Hobbs, McShane (Fathi 57), Elmohamady, Meyler, Bruce, Quinn, Brady, Simpson (Koren 71), Gedo (Cairney 90). Unused substitutes: Jakupovic, Rosenior, Evans, Proschwitz.

Charlton Athletic: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Cort, Evina (Dervite 90), Wilson (Wright-Phillips 80), Stephens, Pritchard, Jackson, Kermorgant, Fuller (Haynes 68). Unused substitutes: Button, Taylor, Wagstaff, Wiggins.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Gedo.