Blues fans have right to criticise says Butt

Birmingham 1 Fulham 0

Butt headed the late winner against Fulham to give Steve Bruce’s side their first home Premiership win of the campaign.

Butt said: “The crowd have been on a few players’ backs, including myself, and rightly so. We have not been playing as well as we can do.

“Some of us have come here, big names, and the fans expect to see us do better. Has the criticism been justified against me? Definitely. The crowd paid good money to come and watch.

“They work all week long to earn their wages and they are coming here and paying good money. If we are not doing as well as we should be, they have a right to get on our backs.

“I think it is a boost for everyone to get that first home win, from the crowd to the manager to the players and the directors and chairman.

“It is not nice playing football in front of fans who are edgy and it transmits right through the players but hopefully we can kick on from here.”

Butt hailed the impact of David Dunn, who played alongside him in midfield.

He said: “As players, no matter who you are, you’ve got to work hard but the ones right across the midfield were the ones who do tend to put their foot in and their strongest part of the game is winning the ball.

“But you also need players to break defences down and David Dunn is a great player. He just needs games now after his long lay-off.

“Dunny came off with a few minutes to go and is bound to feel his legs after being out for so long but he is talented. It shows on the pitch. You’ve got to have players who can produce that bit of magic as well as those who win the ball and Dunny is definitely that type of player.”

Bruce has promised a similar never-say-die approach from his players for the remainder of the season.

He said: “The fans won’t forgive people who are not showing what they want to see. This is a working-class club. It will remain a working-class club and they want to see their team play in a certain way.

“I’ve tried to change that and it is time I went back to how we played before. It was just a relief for everyone to get a win at home.

“It has been a tough time. It is only one win, and we’ve got a long hard winter ahead, but if we play like that, I’m convinced we’ll be alright.”

Opta Fact: 50% of Birmingham’s goals have been headers, a higher percentage than any other club.

Opta Fact: No team has picked up fewer points away from home than Fulham this season.