Chris Davies says Birmingham are heading in right direction after win at Derby
Davies saw his players show real character to come from behind and then dig in through more than 13 minutes of added time.
Birmingham manager Chris Davies believes his team are heading in the right direction after they fought back to win 2-1 at Derby.
Davies saw his players show real character to come from behind and then dig in through more than 13 minutes of added time to secure a second Championship win of the season.
Derby had gone ahead against the run of play with a goal in the 40th minute scored by Bobby Clark with a near-post shot following Sam Szmodics’ clever pass.
Birmingham’s response was instant with Carlos Vicente heading in at the back post from Liam Millar’s cross.
They scored again in the 64th minute when Paik Seung-Ho headed in a corner for his first goal since December.
Davies said: “I think I’m right in saying we’ve got the same amount of points from the same amount of games as we did last season but we’ve looked a completely different team.
“Not only stylistically but just the strength and mental strength we’ve shown and the desire. It pains me to say it but we would have lost that game last season or we would have drawn it.
“I think the trust starts to grow in the group. You go to Wrexham and win, you go to Derby and win and it says a lot of what we are capable of.
“I think anyone who plays sport or football knows those wins are the best where you’ve had to show that real character and grit because it makes victory taste that bit sweeter.
“It was a massive win, a win that had a bit of everything in it in terms of the way we went about it so to win it and win it in the way we did was pretty special today.”
For Derby head coach John Eustace, it was another frustrating result on home soil after the midweek defeat to West Brom.
He said: “I thought we were excellent in large parts of the game against a very competitive team. Really disappointed in the two goals we conceded, we need to be better after getting caught in possession and then defending the far post.
“The second goal has come from a long goal kick and it’s gone straight between our two centre-halves and we need to be bigger and better at defending that and then from the set-piece we obviously need to be stronger.
“I think we have to adjust and get used to each other as well, it doesn’t just come from the back four it comes from the front players as well.
“We’re chopping and changing the team a fair bit to try and get the right chemistry and solutions so we’ve got to keep working hard on the training pitch.”
There was better news about Derby forward Henrik Meister, who was stretchered off with a head injury.
Eustace said: “He’s ok now, he’s having his concussion protocols so we’ll just have to see how he is. I was speaking to him and he seems ok.”