Birmingham Reaction: Valencia impressive on return

Chris Hutchings

"When you take the lead twice you expect to get something from the game. In the second half we switched off from set pieces and the third goal went through a crowd of players and it has ended up in the corner of the net.

"It's obviously disappointing because I thought we deserved to get something out of the game. Birmingham launched it from back to front late on, and it just fell for them. We will need to mark better at set pieces in the future. I think it may be naivety that has led to us conceding the goals.

"Although we have got back to scoring it is no consolation for the way we lost today. We are going to have to roll out sleeves up and get back to winning ways.

"Its good for Antonio to get through, I think he showed his class today. Michael Brown had a little bit of a thigh strain which is why he missed out, and Heskey should be back in a few weeks after the next international break, and so that will be a plus for us."

The Perminator: Former Latics and now Birmingham boss, Steve Bruce

Steve Bruce

"It was an incredible game, but where we've been rock solid and defensively sound, unfortunately today made two horrific mistakes to gift them their goals.

"In the Premier League if you give away two goals you're up against it. I've said for weeks that the team is young and will sometimes make mistakes, but the one thing about them is that they have a go and never give up.

"They never felt sorry for themselves and showed some bottle and dragged their way back into it. Overall when you analyse the game I think we deserved the win.

"To be able to bring players like Larsson and O'Connor on who can change a game is great. I thought O'Connor led the line brilliantly and gave us something else with his physical threat up front and he helped change the game our way.

"And Larsson coming into the midfield added a little bit of quality too, so I have to say 'well done' to them."