Chris Hughton hailed Chris Wood after his hat-trick earned Birmingham a 3-0 win over Millwall, as Kenny Jackett rued a lack of belief.
Jackett looking for a solution to scoring troubles
Chris Hughton hailed on-loan striker Chris Wood after his hat-trick earned Birmingham City a 3-0 win over Millwall, whose manager Kenny Jackett rued a lack of belief.
Relegated Birmingham secured just a second Championship win of the season as Wood opened the scoring in the first half before netting twice after the interval.
The New Zealand international's treble took his tally to five goals in three appearances and Blues boss Hughton has praised the teenager's improvement.
"Chris is getting better with each game that he plays and each week that he is with us," said Hughton.
Very grateful
"Anybody coming in and playing as regularly as he is now has an opportunity to develop his game and we are very grateful to West Brom.
"It is one that is working well both ways. We know the ability that he has got and he is able to do it on a regular basis now and we are delighted he is showing the form he is showing.
"I knew of his ability and what he did on loan last year but you are never sure how it will work out but this is one at the moment that is working out very well for us and Chris is enjoying it very much."
Hughton was also pleased with the overall display of his team, adding: "I think the clean sheet was as important as the goals.
"The goals came at the right moment and it was very pleasing because we were up against a very tough team that started the game well but we showed great resilience."
Millwall have now gone four Championship games without a win, failing to score in their past three, and manager Jackett admits he needs to find a solution to that quickly.
Disappointed
Jackett said: "Our first-half performance was pretty good and we were somewhat unlucky to be 1-0 down.
"We gave them a good game in the first half and we did well to be honest and perhaps had the better of it.
"In the second half, I felt that we didn't do enough. We didn't really show enough belief.
"The clear-cut chances that we did have we needed to put them away to give everyone a lift.
"I was disappointed with the first two goals that we conceded. We need to eradicate that and as in terms of going forward we do need to find that goalscoring equation.
"It is an obvious thing. We have to come through it. There is no doubt about that.
"Confidence and belief is part of being a professional sportsman and you have to maintain that and always fight back.
"But it is three league games without a goal. We are aware of that. For us now it is about finding the right combination to score."
