CHRIS Hughton said it was cruel on Birmingham City to begin the new season with a defeat.

But the Blues boss also accepted that his team could have done more at Derby County, especially after taking a 19th minute lead and dictating play.

“There were a lot of positives from the game overall, and I felt we deserved more,” said Hughton.

“But despite playing well, particularly in that first-half, it was disappointing to be 2-1 down.

“But that’s how cruel this game can be. And that’s what happens - the game is won at both ends.

“You’ve got to defend well at one end and you’ve got to have enough guile and quality at the other end and probably, in the balance of our play, and the good areas we got into, we didn’t test their goalkeeper enough.”

Hughton was miffed by the way Derby scored: “The first, it was a very scrappy goal. The delivery of the ball was good, nothing special, but it was one that I felt, initially, that we had dealt with.

“I was equally disappointed with the second goal. The ball has moved a little bit. We could have done better on both.”

“In the second-half, it became a bit scrappy, it was a bit open as we had to force the issue,” Hughton added.

“Chris Wood came on to give us some more strength, more of a focal point up front. We pushed on again and no one could fault our desire in trying to get an equaliser. We took the game to Derby.

“Such as it went on, it became very stretched and we were either going to get the equaliser or they were going to break away and get a third.

“They got bodies back behind the ball, and we just didn’t have enough to break them down.”

"I thought the determination and the spirit the players showed was a real positive," Hughton continued. "But I was very disappointed with the result. We need to pick them up again and look forward to a home game on Saturday."

Coventry City visit St Andrew's and goalscorer Curtis Davies has vowed that they would face a tighter Blues.

"We will kick on to the Coventry game," said Davies, who admitted that he actually scored at both ends.

"It was great to start like we did, and had we held on to half-time, then it could have been different and their game plan would have been different.

"Their opening goal, it was a sloppy free-kick to give away in the first place.

"When the ball came in, it came off my shoulder. Liam Ridgewell at the near post got a little flick and as I was coming in to help Adam Rooney out with Jason Shackell it came off my shoulder.

"That can't be helped. It was one of those things.

"The second goal, it was a good strike. You can't take away from the actual quality of the strike but the thing is, in that sort of area of the pitch, we really should be closer to a man like that.

"The fact he's had a good five yards to have a run at it and then hit it, we've got to do better.

"We would rather have got off to a winning start, but we can put it right on Saturday."

Blues, meanwhile, have been linked with Coventry defender Ben Turner, a Brummie and lifelong fan of the club.

Turner, who turns 23 later this month, has been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury in December.

But it is understood Blues have been monitoring Turner and with a host of centre-halves on their books already, the Sky Blues would probably listen to offers.

However, Hughton doesn't appear able to be able to make a cash bid at present.

He has concentrated on the Bosman and loan market.

So far all of Blues eight signings have either been frees or loans.

If Scott Dann was sold for a hefty fee, that could possibly change.

But former Spurs defender Anthony Gardner, a free agent, has come into the reckoning.

What do you think? Which positions are a priority for Blues now?

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