WHAT a difference a year makes. Birmingham City guaranteed an annus horribilis for Newcastle United and their long-suffering supporters in January when Steve Bruce’s team strode into St James’ Park and promptly hit the home team for five in the third round of the FA Cup.

Newcastle 2 Birmingham 1

Birmingham regained their pride and picked up a precious point in their bid to stay in the Barclays Premiership against the champions elect at St Andrews.

Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has admitted that manager Steve Bruce did not think Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa was “good enough” to play in the Barclaycard Premiership after the St Andrews club cut their losses on the summer signing.