Thursday 14 August 2014 08:22, UK
Birmingham boss Lee Clark was relieved after watching his side clinch their first home win since October 1 with a 3-1 extra-time Capital One Cup first round success over Cambridge.
It was Birmingham's first home win in 22 games and it was skipper Phil Caddis who broke the stalemate with his crucial 95th-minute strike to pave the way for a victory completed by Mark Duffy adding a third goal in the 105th minute.
Clark admitted: "We have come up against a really tough team. The players were fully aware and we were not under-prepared.
"We got the result. Cup competitions are about getting through into the next round.
"There was lots of pace and power. There was a lot of energy up front and in midfield.
"Paul Caddis and David Davis were excellent for us in midfield. I thought Davis was outstanding when you consider he has not played much football.
"He cramped up towards the end. He displayed his character to stay on and fight through this spell.
"He was tenacious and quick across the pitch. He passed the ball well and we think we have a good one in Davis.
"So far as I was concerned there were a lot of positives to take from the game and I think Clayton Donaldson will excite the fans."
Donaldson had raised Birmingham's hopes with a 16th minute strike - his first goal since his arrival from Brentford - but they failed to capitalise.
Clayton Donaldson twice went close to adding to his opening goal in the first half but it was his namesake Ryan who put the visitors back into the game with a fine solo effort, racing through unchecked to produce a 37th-minute equaliser with a powerful low drive.
A ragged Birmingham struggled to break Cambridge's spirited resistance and it was not until five minutes into extra-time that Caddis - Birmingham's hero with his goal at Bolton in the final game last season to keep the club in the Championship - scored the vital second goal.
Cambridge manager Richard Money said: "There was pride in the performance but it's tinged with disappointment that we have lost and not gone through.
"We were confident we could give them a real scare and I think we did that. We had the better chances before they took the lead.
"They are a Championship team and they pick you off and finish. This is something we are not used to at the level we played at last season.
"When we equalised we were as good as Birmingham and the game could have gone either way.
"Extra-time so early in the season at a Championship club is tough. We looked leggy in the first period of extra-time but the game was over at 3-1.
"It was more about gaining confidence going on from this game. We move on.
"The occasion didn't frighten us. We played two finals at Wembley last season and with respect to Birmingham they were far bigger game than this game and far more important to Cambridge and our future."
