Hughton hails City's spirit after FA Cup win

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton hailed his players for coping with a gruelling schedule this season after Wade Elliott’s goal earned them a 1-0 win at Wolves in their FA Cup third-round replay.

Hughton’s main priority is trying to secure promotion back to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt.

However, City have also had eight qualifiers and group games in the Europa League despite the loss of many of last season’s players.

And an FA Cup run could now be a possibility after Elliott’s goal in Birmingham’s 36th game of the campaign set up a visit to Sheffield United.

Hughton said: “We have played on average eight more games than most teams in our division.

“But at this moment there is a real good spirit in the team. All we are trying to do on our side is to be positive about everything.

“There is a group of players here who want to play. No-one has come in and told me they are tired.

“It is one game after another but I’ve got a group of lads who enjoy playing football.”

Blues goalkeeper Colin Doyle made a late double save from Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher in the first meeting and repeated his heroics to deny Fletcher again and Stephen Hunt in the dying seconds.

But Hughton felt his side were worthy winners over the 90 minutes.

He said: “It was a satisfying result. We had to defend very well at times and our two centre-halfs (Curtis Davies and Steven Caldwell) were excellent and we needed them.

“But I thought we showed enough on the ball to be a real threat at times and in the end we just deserved it.

“It was an important double save at the end from Colin because we didn’t want to be going into extra-time.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was angry at his side’s exit from the competition, even after making 10 changes to his starting line-up.

He said: “I am very disappointed, angry, and the game hinged on us not marking from a corner so I’m disappointed with that.

“I’ve loads of complaints, not with them but with us for not being good enough on the night.

“I know winning games creates that winning mentality and I didn’t want to lose tonight. I’m bitterly disappointed.

“Yes, there are a lot of changes, some enforced, some my decision, but they are all Premier League players. I’m livid we’ve gone out.”