City secured a point on the road as Nahki Wells’ second-half equaliser capped an exciting performance at the MKM Stadium.
Wells’ goal in the 62nd minute after player of the match Jason Knight set up Mark Sykes for a pin-point cross.
It was no more than the Robins deserved as they rallied after Ozan Tufan’s first-half goal to create chance after chance, including a Wells’ effort that was ruled offside late by the assistant referee.
City started brightly with Zak Vyner intercepting a ball in midfield and feeding Sam Bell but his cross was cut out.
Naismith, playing in defence instead of the suspended Rob Dickie, was effective in splitting the defence, while Knight was energetic and took the ball forward well.
Hull went close after 16 minutes, Adama Traoré hitting the side-netting after the Tigers switched the play, while a minute later they were in the lead. Liam Delap beat Vyner down the right and pulled the ball back for Tufan, who swept the ball into the net,
From then on it was all City but they could not find the goal, Sykes – from Sam Bell’s parried shot – and Joe Williams shooting over, while Knight and George Tanner had shots blocked.
Then came the controversial offside, with the assistant refereeing putting up his flag a significant time after Wells had put the ball in the net.
City had chances early in the second half with Knight heading a Naismith corner wide at the front post and then Bell beating his man and crossing low across goal but no-one was there to capitalise.
It felt like the breakthrough would come and it duly did just after the hour-mark when Knight drove through the middle, fed Sykes on the right and his inch-perfect cross found Wells who tapped the ball in.
Wells almost had a second when his close-range overhead kick was blocked and then gathered by Matt Ingram.
By then O’Leary had punched over Scott Twine’s free-kick while the keeper came out well to deny Aaron Connolly.
City made a triple substitution after 76 minutes with Harry Cornick, debutant Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Andi Weimann coming on Wells, Bell and Tanner.
However, they lost Weimann within two minutes to a recurrence of his heel injury and he was replaced by Haydon Roberts.
City threw everything into getting the win, including Cornick breaking down the left and shooting from a tight angle but Ingram denied him with his feet.
Gardner-Hickman almost capped a dream debut with a shot that was blocked as City pressed for all three points but had to settle for one.
Team: O’Leary, Tanner (Gardner-Hickman 76), Vyner, Naismith, Pring, Williams, James (C), Knight, Sykes (Mehmeti 89), Bell (Weimann 76, Roberts 78), Wells (Cornick 76). Subs (not used): Bajic, King, Yeboah.
Att: 19,491 (408 away).