Blues on the brink after penalty miss

BIRMINGHAM paid the price for Nikola Zigic’s early saved penalty as a narrow defeat in Braga left them facing an uphill battle in their bid to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

The Serbian saw his 11th-minute spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Quim and the Portuguese hosts went on to claim victory through Hugo Viana’s 50th-minute deflected strike.

The result saw Braga qualify for the last 32 from a tight Group H based on their head-to-head record and a 3-1 victory at St Andrew’s on match day one, while Club Brugge’s dramatic fightback to claim a 4-3 victory over bottom club Maribor also sent them three points clear of City.