Hughton: We showed enough quality despite defeat

Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton was disappointed with his side’s 2-1 defeat to Derby but he can see some positives in their performance.

The Blues took an early lead through Curtis Davies before Jason Shackell and Steven Davies condemned them to defeat on the opening day of the season.

But Hughton believes his side showed enough promise despite their defeat.

After the game he said: “Over 90 minutes I thought we showed enough good quality and got enough good positions and particularly in the first half I thought we had good control of the game and I thought it would see us get more out of the game.

“[We went] in at half-time where you feel you’ve played well enough not only to be not losing but to be winning the game.

“But the game is won and lost at both ends, you’ve got to defend well at one end and you’ve got to have enough guile and quality to score at the other end and probably in the balance of play and the good areas that we got in we didn’t test their goalkeeper enough.“