Birmingham started life in the Championship once again with a narrow defeat against Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday.
Things started very well for the Blues with Curtis Davies picking this game to score his first goal since the year dot and give Birmingham the lead with a bullet header.
But things were not to remain the same for Chris Hughton`s side and further first half goals from Jason Shackell and Steven Davies turned things round for the home side and left Birmingham wondering if it was going to be one of those days.
Indeed it was, with the first half strikes proving to be enough to hand the home side the full quota of points, but City boss Hughton believed that his side did more than enough to earn at least a draw from the game.
He told his club’s official website: ‘I certainly felt we were unlucky not to pick up a result, but the great thing is that there are plenty of positives to build on going into the Coventry home game next weekend.
‘We deservedly went ahead and at that point were in control. However, we conceded two goals where we could have done much better and that changed the game.
‘Things really opened up at that point and there was space on the pitch. We pushed on again and no-one can fault our desire in trying to get an equaliser.
‘We took the game to Derby and I think the 4,000 supporters – who were magnificent today as always – appreciated that.”
Blues fans were treated to a new look City side, Hughton handed debuts to five of the players that he has drafted in since he took charge and on the whole he found nothing much to be disappointed about, apart from the result of course.
‘They have had very little time to gel but that being said no-one would have thought so with how we played for large parts of the game,” the boss added.
‘We hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions and had those chances gone in it may have been a bit of a different story, but we also need to work on having a bit more guile when we are attacking.
‘It was a step in the right direction and there were plenty of positives to build on.”
DERBY COUNTY: Fielding; Brayford, Shackell, Anderson (O’Brien, 35), Kilbane; Bailey (Hendrick, 84); Croft, Bryson, B Davies; Ward (Robinson, 79), S Davies.
Other subs: Legzdins (gk), Maguire.
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Myhill; Carr, Davies, Caldwell, Ridgewell; Burke, Mutch, Gomis, Fahey (Wood, 60); Beausejour, Rooney.
Other Subs: Doyle (gk), Murphy, Dann, Redmond.
Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire)
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