Source: Team_Talk
Hughton: Duo let off the hook
Chris Hughton said the drinks were on Colin Doyle and Jonathan Spector after their Birmingham team-mates bailed them out in the win at Maribor.[LNB] Hughton's Championship side went a goal down in their Europa League Group H clash in Slovenia when goalkeeper Doyle completely missed Spector's ill-advised backpass and allowed Dalibor Volas in to score.[LNB]But City showed fighting spirit to level through Chris Burke before Wade Elliott hit a dramatic winner to earn his side a 2-1 win and their first three points of the European campaign.[LNB]"Overall I thought it was a good game," Hughton said.[LNB]"From my point of view I was very frustrated with the first goal we conceded and one of the reasons we're happy we won is because we wouldn't have liked to have lost to a goal like that.[LNB]"We showed great character and team spirit and in the end I thought we were worthy winners.[LNB]"You do reflect on goals like that and it's always good to clear things up after mistakes. In defence of Colin, it was a very difficult ball for him to deal with. It was then important we didn't concede again and we managed that and then went on to get a grip on the game."[LNB]Hughton added: "I would think Colin and Jonathan might offer to buy Chris and Wade a drink now!"[LNB]"These things are part and parcel of the game. Their goal was very much a mistake. Anybody can make them and it just makes us more thankful to get the result.[LNB]"Someone made a mistake today and someone else might make the next one. That's football."[LNB]While his side lie 19th in the Championship, Hughton is still determined to make the most of his side's European adventure.[LNB]"Of course we want to do well in this competition," he said.[LNB]"The most important thing for us is competing and we know Brugge and Braga are very experienced and have so much quality."[LNB]Maribor coach Darko Milanic, who masterminded Rangers' downfall at the play-off stage, said: "In the first half I thought we were the better team and we played an excellent game.[LNB]"We had many chances and scored after they made the mistake. We had everything under control at that stage but knew our opponents tonight were very dangerous.[LNB]"In the second half though we were not as clever on the ball and Birmingham were more dangerous. They capitalised on our mistakes and scored and after that we didn't keep it together.[LNB]"Birmingham showed the spirit I expected them to show. The result just shows the quality in the group."[LNB]Both sides had early chances and Doyle showed superb reflexes to tip away Goran Cvijanovic's point-blank header early on.[LNB]Marlon King created chances of his own without seriously threatening and when the deadlock was broken, it was in farcical circumstances.[LNB]Doyle somehow missed Spector's backpass and then seemed to watch helplessly as the ball rolled behind him and Volas gleefully put the ball in the net.[LNB]But the equaliser came in the 64th minute as Burke showed superb technique to poke the ball around his marker and slot it under the onrushing Jasmin Handanovic.[LNB]Birmingham were buoyant and when the next goal came their 600-strong band of followers were joyous.[LNB]A speculative punt forward 11 minutes from time just eluded Morgaro Gomis' control but when the loose ball was not dealt with, Elliott was alert to the opportunity and drove his right-footed half-volley inside Handanovic's near post.
