Mohamed El Bachir Belloumi has narrowly escaped relegation anguish as Hull City secured their place in the Championship on the final day of the season, thanks to a favourable goal difference that edged them above Luton Town.
The Tigers, sitting second from bottom heading into the final round of fixtures, were forced to rely on results elsewhere after managing only a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.
With their fate no longer in their own hands, tension ran high at the MKM Stadium. Injured midfielder Belloumi, who has been sidelined since November with a knee injury, could only watch and hope as his club’s Championship status hung by a thread.
The decisive outcome came not from Hull’s own performance but from West Bromwich Albion’s emphatic 5-2 victory over Luton Town
. That result kept Luton level with Hull on 49 points but with an inferior goal difference—minus 14 to Hull’s minus 10—ultimately condemning Luton to relegation and sparing Hull from a drop into League One.
Belloumi, who had made a promising start to his time in English football before injury curtailed his season, was unable to contribute on the pitch during the decisive run-in.
In just ten appearances before his setback, the Algerian international had impressed with two goals and two assists, offering glimpses of his creative potential in midfield.
A demotion to the third tier would have been a major setback for the 21-year-old, who is still in the early stages of his European career.
Instead, thanks to goal difference and a bit of fortune, Belloumi will return next season to a Championship side with its ambitions intact. The club’s ability to hold onto second-tier status provides a crucial platform for the Algerian to continue his development, as well as for Hull to rebuild after a turbulent campaign.
Hull City’s draw against Portsmouth was not enough to guarantee survival on its own, highlighting the slim margins at play in the relegation battle.
Despite a spirited effort, they failed to claim all three points in a match that saw Belloumi’s teammates struggle to control proceedings. In the end, it was arithmetic—not performance—that saved them.
Had Luton taken even a point from their encounter with West Brom, Hull would have been consigned to League One. Instead, the Tigers live to fight another season in the Championship, while Belloumi’s long-term plans in English football remain on course.
For Belloumi, son of Algerian football legend Lakhdar Belloumi, the relief is significant. Relegation could have disrupted his upward trajectory and diminished opportunities to showcase his talent on a competitive stage. Now, with a full recovery on the horizon and the club’s status secure, the midfielder can look ahead with renewed optimism.
With Hull’s Championship survival confirmed, focus will soon shift to the upcoming season. If Belloumi regains full fitness and builds on the promise he showed before injury, he could play a central role in helping Hull climb the table—and perhaps even contend for promotion to the Premier League.
For now, survival is enough. And for Mohamed El Bachir Belloumi, it’s a chance to pick up where he left off, with dreams of top-flight football still very much alive.
