Phillips: Fantastic achievement.

Blues striker Kevin Phillips may have got the all important second goal that saw Birmingham back in the big time, but after the game he was full of praise for the rest of his team mates.

Phillips grabbed his 14th goal of the season to help wrap up a crucial 2-1 win at the Madejski Stadium making it the second consecutive promotion to the Premier league, but the latest one was a bit special to the 35 year old.

“It was courageous, the spirit, there`s so many words you can use,” said Phillips to the Birmingham Mail.

“We had a team meeting before the game and there wasn`t an awful lot that could be said because we said everything before the Preston game and we let ourselves down there.

“But we had given ourselves two chances, we didn`t take it against Preston and I suppose the way the season was going it was always going to come down to here (Reading). It was always going to be the odd goal in it and I`m delighted to have gained promotion.

“Any promotion is a great feeling and it`s a great achievement but to do it the season after a club has been relegated is that extra bit special because that is the hardest time to try and gain promotion. To bounce back straight away was tremendous.

“If it wasn`t going to happen today then we would have found it very difficult to get ourselves up for the play-offs. We wanted it to end today and to come to Reading on a day when one of three teams could gain promotion and win is a fantastic achievement.”