Hull City 2 Birmingham City 1 - report

Blues boss Chris Hughton believes their glut of games is now beginning to bite after their second defeat in successive Championship matches.

Birmingham went down 2-1 at Hull last night and, after their draining Europa League participation, Hughton admits his side are finding it tough.

"We're on the back of four tough away games now, having gone to Blackpool, Braga, Cardiff and Hull. That's a tough period in any season," he said, before suggesting they were unlucky not to take anything from the match at the KC stadium.

"Over 90 minutes, we certainly had enough chances not to lose the game. After going in 1-0 up at half-time, what you can't afford to do is concede as early as we did in that second half.

"We got back into the game after that but we're victims of not being clinical enough with the good chances we had and not defending well enough over 90 minutes.

"It's frustrating because, if you look at the chances we created, we shouldn't have lost the game.

"But one thing about a difficult time is you've always got the opportunity to put things right and go on another good run."

The first two goals had a distinctly Baggies theme as on-loan Albion striker Chris Wood gave the visitors a first-half lead.

The birthday boy put Blues ahead in the 34th minute with a smart finish inside the box but ex-Hawthorns man Robert Koren's volley levelled matters two minutes after the break.

Former Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill – also on loan from the Baggies – then allowed Aaron Mclean's 67th-minute strike to elude his grasp at the near post as the hosts sealed the points.

Hull: Gulacsi, Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dawson, Evans, McKenna, Mclean, Koren, Stewart (Dudgeon 84), Fryatt. Subs not used: Basso, Cairney, McShane, Adebola.

Birmingham: Myhill, Carr, Caldwell, Spector, Murphy, Burke (Rooney 89), Fahey (N'Daw 77), Ibanez, Elliott, King, Wood (Zigic 76). Subs not used: Doyle, Gomis.

Attendance: 17, 438

Referee: Michael Naylor (Sheffield).