Birmingham City 2 - Hull City 1

Birmingham were given further proof of just how difficult it is going to be to get out of the Championship as they were subjected to a late attacking onslaught by bottom of the table Hull which were surprised by the ease in which they were able dominate the closing stages.

Hull's striker Jon Parkin should have earned his side a point when he raced around everyone and with an open goal at his mercy smashed his shot against the post in the last five minutes. The new-look Birmingham side may have been streets ahead of Hull early on but dogged defensive work foiled and frustrated the Blues to such an extent that they were restricted to only one first half goal in a somewhat scrappy game.

It might well have been different if skipper Ian Ashbee, making his first appearance for 12 months, wasted a glorious chance to make a story-book return when he fluffed his shot following some early pressure with Birmingham's defence all at sea.

Nicky Forster and Michael Bridges made their first appearances together for Hull and it was Bridges who created an early impression with confidence to take the ball forward through a packed defence only to see his shot go just wide. There is little doubt that this incident gave bottom of the table Hull some much needed confidence against a Birmingham side that is still struggling to come to terms with life in the Championship.