GREAT Result Shame about the *****

against an up and under that should have read!

We played well but got lucky. Fair play to brum, hit the woodwork 3 times and they will have no problem getting in play offs IMO under houghton once their strikers get back

Lucky? Ward missed TWO sitters to put us 3-1 up!

Sounds to me like if we are going to press teams we will need two qualities. keeping possession and a strong and organised back four. From what I have read the latter was in evidence today. I cannot comment on the keeping possession side because I havent heard much comment about it. But when "up and under" teams come back at you it is generally a quick action.

There was talk of the young lad O'Brien coming on and doing a solid job for us today. Please feel free to comment as I would be really pleased to hear what is thought of him.

O'Brien did well, old-fashioned "head it n kick it" merchant, kept things simple and kept the ball away from the net! One diving block when we were under pressure late on stopped a certain goal and showed the lad is not afraid to get hurt as long as he blocks the ball.

Shackell, alongside, was TREMENDOUS.

I do think that birmingham were worth the draw but we played well. They hit the woodwork 3 times

I have to agree with peni.That was a good first game for Chris Hughton.We had a completely new team and after all the gloom about our club,it was a lot better than i expected.One thing though,if McLeish was still our manager we woulld have won 1 0.Unfortunately though,we would have all been bored stiff.Good game great atmospher.Good luck for the rest of the season.

The most striking thing was the workrate. Every player worked his socks off to cover his team-mate.

Lee Croft is proof of alien possession. We need to get Mulder & Scully down to Pride Park ASAP.

There really isn't any other explanation for the turn-around in the lad. I like Cwyka, but if Croft really can maintain this intensity throughout the season then Cwyka's going to find it very tough indeed to break into the starting 11.

Shackell was so good that there were some bits - especially his exquisitely-timed last ditch 2nd half tackle when Brum were 95% sure to score - that put me in mind of Roy Mac. That's not a comparison to make lightly. It's early days yet, but initial indications are we have * a player * here.

Thinking about a Barker / Shackell CB pairing is mouthwatering.

We've had planty of stand-out CB's over the years, but usually based on one genius and one sidekick. McGrath, Wright, Igor.

Imagine having 2 great CB's on the pitch together

Last season we would have allowed Brum to come back to sneak a draw or even win. Not this time. When they threw caution to the wind with 10 mins left we stood firm - they looked no more likely to score than during the 1st 80. If we can keep that up, that will be a massively important change for the Rams.

You were told you were taking the proverbial only paying £1m for Shackell. Some of you weren't so sure. What you think now??
Now you know why we got Addison for a year as part of the deal with you paying towards his upkeep. I only hope Shacks has a sell on in his contract for when the PL come sniffing. He was class at Donny and class at Oakwell. Some BFC fans were resentful of the fact he moved to a club that finished below us, but he's ambitious and Derby is always going to have a bigger 'profile' than Barnsley wherever they finish. GL to him.

Fair play Richie