Today a DJ saved my life, says Brummies boss

BIRMINGHAM manager Steve Bruce lauded the contribution of DJ Campbell after the second-half substitute netted a brace in the Blues’ comprehensive win over Coventry at St Andrews.

The win moves Bruce’s side back into the Championship’s automatic promotion spots, and with a game in hand on leaders Derby he is confident of securing a return to the Premiership at the first attempt.

But it was Campbell who was the focus of Bruce’s praise after the game. The former Brentford striker netted his first goal just three minutes after coming off the bench and then added asecond 12 minutes from time to seal the win which had looked inevitable following Radhi Jaidi’s first-half opener.

“I made a big mistake byleaving him out of the 16 and I had to admit that to him and apologise to him for that,” Bruce said. “He has brightened up training sessions since he came to the club. He’s absolutely delighted to be a footballer instead of driving a van. He keeps knocking on the door and I’m obviously going to have to put him right in my thoughts again.

“It’s unfair to label him as a super-sub, but he is very, very bright. Some people are poor when they come on and can’t adjust to the pace of the game. DJ isn’t like that, though. He’s bright and he’s lively and after the chances we missed in the first half it was great to see him get a chance and put it away with his first touch.

“It was pretty convincing. It could have been all over in the first half with the chances we had, but that has been a bit of an Achilles heel for us. I thought if we could get the second one we could run away with it and in the end it turned out to be very convincing and very comfortable.”

BIRMINGHAM: Doyle, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Jaidi, Sadler, Larsson, Johnson, Clemence (Nafti 73), Vine, Bendtner (Muamba 82), Jerome (Campbell 62).

COVENTRY: Marshall, Virgo, Hawkins, Ward, Hall, Osbourne (Fadiga 64), Doyle, Hughes, Tabb (Kyle 64), Adebola, Mifsud.

Referee: T M Kettle (Rutland).