Blues learning quickly for their boss
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish believes his side are learning quickly how to cope with life back in the top flight.
Blues secured their second Premier League win of the season on Saturday, as substitute Garry O'Connor grabbed the only goal of a scrappy contest at the KC Stadium.
The overall quality of the game may have been low, but McLeish felt it was a commendable result after being deprived of the services of a host of first-team regulars by injury.
His side's three defeats this season have come by narrow single-goal margins to Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa and the Scot believes lessons are being learned.
He said: "There is absolutely amazing resilience from the players. It was a fantastic win but I knew that, despite only having 17 players, I still had a pretty decent team out on the pitch.
"We have gone toe-to-toe with everyone in the Premier League and I don't think we have looked out of place.
"We have played against two top sides and on another day we might have taken something at Man United and we definitely should have taken something at Spurs.
"We are adjusting to the Premier League, knowing that the Premier League can be very cruel if you make a mistake and switch off.
"But they all stood up to the plate and I am pleased with a great all-round performance."
O'Connor, who had also been ill with a stomach bug during the week, settled the game when he came off the bench just after the hour and headed home from a 75th-minute corner.
It was a result that should put the club in good heart as they prepare for a change of ownership. And Blues could have won more convincingly had Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill not produced a fine performance.
The Wales international was on top form and made several good saves including three from Christian Benitez, who was making his full debut, and two from Lee Bowyer. Blues also named 17-year-old Ashley Sammons among just six substitutes.
McLeish said: "I thought it was going to be another hard-luck story, but we still showed dedication and application and made the chances."
Yet it was not all Birmingham, and visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart also had a busy afternoon as mistakes from both sides allowed for plenty of goalmouth incident.
Hull had their fair share of chances and went close late on when Ibrahima Sonko headed against the bar in a penalty area scramble. Stephen Hunt also felt he was denied a penalty after a challenge by Scott Dann.
But time ran out for Hull and the defeat left them in the bottom three.
