Birmingham's bid to secure an immediate return to the Barclays Premier League made a stuttering start as they slipped to an opening-day npower Championship defeat at Derby.Chris Hughton's men had gone in front through defender Curtis Davies' header at Pride Park but were quickly pegged back by Jason Shackell's equaliser.Nigel Clough's side then capitalised on their momentum as Steve Davies fired them in front before the break and the hosts held on for three points against an unfamiliar Birmingham side who created plenty of chances but are clearly yet to really gel.
Hughton's side are bidding for a quick return to the top flight this season but have been weakened by a player exodus this summer which has seen the likes of Craig Gardner, Sebastian Larsson, Barry Ferguson, Roger Johnson and Ben Foster all leave.Five of the visitors' starting XI were new faces with former Inverness striker Adam Rooney on his own up front. Derby had plenty of new recruits involved too, among them Frankie Fielding, in goal, as well as Jamie Ward, Shackell, Kevin Kilbane and Craig Bryson.Derby started well and after Lee Croft came close in the first minute, settled into the game nicely.Birmingham had a bit more going forward, though, and at the other end Keith Fahey headed wide wastefully from Chris Burke's cross while Jordon Mutch rattled the bar with a header from Jean Beausejour's cross.
The opening goal came in the 19th minute through Davies, as the former Aston Villa centre-half leapt to head home from Mutch's corner.
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