Birmingham 2 Hull 3: Bruce and Aluko in sweet return trip

Bruce singled out Sone Aluko for special praise and also hailed the rest of his side for their first-half performance.

He said: “It was an unbelievable turnaround. But credit to Birmingham, they stuck at their task just when I thought the crowd would turn against them.

“They played their part. Birmingham kept flying the ball into big (Nikola) Zigic and that is the best I’ve seen him play.

“Our team talk at half-time was to keep it tight and they scored again after 12 seconds. It just shows what rubbish you talk.

“But I thought some of our football in the first half was very good. I have some really good players and the way Aluko is playing, is there a better player in the Championship? He has been excellent for us.”

Birmingham slumped to their fourth home league defeat of the campaign, with Aluko returning to haunt his old club with a brace.

Aluko’s double and another goal from James Chester put Hull 3-0 up after 33 minutes, and, although Birmingham managed to pull goals back through Ravel Morrison and Marlon King, the Tigers held on for victory.

It was only Hull’s second win at St Andrew’s in over 100 years and left Birmingham seven points above the relegation zone and eight adrift of the play-off places.

Assistant manager Terry McDermott, deputising for manager Lee Clark, who reportedly lost his voice during the encounter, conceded Birmingham can forget about reaching the play-offs if they do not improve their home form.

McDermott, said: “We are all devastated. The only thing to be pleased about was showing some character to come back with two goals.

“To go three goals down a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel but they kept going.”

Birmingham City: Butland, Spector, Caldwell, Robinson, Murphy (Hancox 85), Burke, Morrison, Mullins, Elliott (Redmond 65), King, Zigic. Unused substitutes: Doyle, Ibanez, Ambrose, Lovenkrands, Diop.

Hull City: Amos, Chester, Faye, Bruce, Elmohamady, Koren, Olofinjana (Meyler 63), Quinn, Rosenior (Brady 70), Simpson (Mclean 76), Aluko. Unused substitutes: Jakupovic, McKenna, Evans, Proschwitz.

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).

Man of the match: Sone Aluko.