Bristol City boss Gary Johnson admitted his side were second best to Birmingham in last night's big Championship match at Ashton Gate. The Londoner offered a brutally honest assessment after watching his side surrender their unbeaten record, losing 2-1 to a side packed full of Premier League experience. Johnson emerged from a 45-minute post-match inquest and conceded his players had not been good enough in either penalty area. Trailing to a Louis Carey own goal and a Cameron Jerome strike, City fought back in the second half and Lee Trundle's wonder goal from 40 yards made a game of it. But the Robins were unable to create another clear-cut opening and the Blues held out to remain level with Wolves at the top of the Championship table.
"We were not good enough with our final ball or our movement inside the penalty area," fumed Johnson. "That goes for everyone, not just the strikers. We were second best in the areas where it really matters and that's why we've lost the game. I thought between the two penalty areas we played very well. But that's no use if you don't create chances. Lee Trundle has scored an amazing goal, but you shouldn't need to score from 45 yards in a home game."
Bristol Evening Post

Cameron Jerome got the winner in his first league start this season and thrilled Blues boss Alex McLeish. Robins captain Louis Carey put through his own net when he got a slight touch to a Seb Larsson free-kick. And Jerome turned in a David Murphy cross to double the lead on 24 minutes. Sub Lee Trundle got one back in the 79th minute, chipping in from 40 yards after a weak clearance from keeper Maik Taylor. McLeish said: "Jerome put his money where his mouth is." Robins boss Gary Johnson admitted: "We were found wanting."
The Sun

Cameron Jerome ensured Birmingham preserved their unbeaten start, while inflicting Bristol City's first League defeat of the season. The home side's unbeaten record was in doubt as early as the eighth minute when Sebastian Larsson's free kick from the left flank went in off Bristol skipper Louis Carey's head.
Daily Mail

Bristol City lost their unbeaten record in the Coca-Cola Championship last night, despite a remarkable long-range goal by Lee Trundle. The mercurial forward, who looks and plays like David Beckham's chunkier brother, seized on a poor clearance by Maik Taylor and embarrassed the Birmingham City goalkeeper with a stunning left-foot strike in the 79th minute. Trundle had been on the pitch for only nine minutes after coming on as a substitute with his team trailing 2-0, but his goal proved to be no more than a consolation. "It was typical Trundle," Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager, said. "When I saw he was coming on I thought, 'Oh no, he's liable to do something special,' but I never thought he would do that. He's becoming notorious for that sort of finish."
Times

A remarkable goal from Bristol City's forgotten striker, Lee Trundle, who chipped the ball over Maik Taylor from just inside the opposition's half, was still not good enough to save Bristol from their first defeat this season as two first-half goals kept Birmingham joint top of the Championship table with rivals Wolves. "It was typical Trundle," said Birmingham manager Alex McLeish. "He can always do something special but I never expected him to do anything like that." The goal was no more than the home side deserved after fighting back from a seemingly hopeless position.
Telegraph

Birmingham City remained second in the Championship despite a remarkable late goal by Lee Trundle during a spirited fightback by the home side. The Bristol City striker hit a 40-yard shot into an empty net after Birmingham had badly mismanaged a clearance, but it was not enough to counter Blues' first-half double. "This was a typical and exceptional goal by Trundle," said the Birmingham manager, Alex McLeish. "I saw him coming off the bench and I simply knew what he was capable of. Our performance in the first half was better than at any time this season. Then we got a bit careless and started surrendering possession."
Guardian

Birmingham City continued their fine start to the season with a determined victory over Championship rivals Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Alex McLeish's side took control of the game with a fine first-half performance, and despite heavy home pressure in the second, they hung on to claim a valuable victory. The visitors took the lead after just eight minutes, as Sebastian Larsson's left-wing free-kick was unwittingly helped into the net by City captain Louis Carey.
Independent

A thrilled Alex McLeish predicted that his players would gain even more confidence from last night's fine away victory at Bristol City. The 2-1 win at Ashton Gate made it five wins and a draw from six Championship games, which represents Blues best start to a league campaign since 1991-92, the season when Terry Cooper's side won promotion from Division Three. The manner of Blues performance in the first-half, which was followed by a typically gallant defensive stand, particularly pleased the manager. Before the match, the Bristol camp were describing it as a 'must win', their players had been talking about how important it was to beat Blues to stop them opening up an early gap at the top of the table. "We came to a very tough place and Premier League teams would struggle at Ashton Gate I'm sure," said McLeish.
Birmingham Mail