Sunday 22 February 2015 17:13, UK
Brighton boss Chris Hughton stressed the importance of getting a home victory in the Seagulls' battle against relegation following their vital 4-3 win over Birmingham.
Joao Teixeira and Inigo Calderon both scored twice as Albion clinched only their second win in their last eight league games at the Amex Stadium.
They have one of the bleakest home records in the country, and Hughton was desperate to return to winning ways at their base following hard-earned points in away draws against Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday.
Hughton, a former Birmingham manager, was delighted to put one over on his old side in his 100th game as a boss in the Championship and he said: "To get four goals is very pleasing.
"I'm delighted with the four goals but at the same time a little frustrated. We should have made the game safer in the second half.
"We knew it would be tough as Birmingham were going for it. The goals we gave away were poor and we need to do better."
Hughton went out of his way to stress the importance of David Stockdale's penalty save in first-half stoppage-time to prevent Paul Caddis from giving Blues a 2-1 interval lead.
Stockdale went full length to his left to save Caddis' spot kick and Hughton said: "It was a crucial moment. Going in 2-1 down would have made a massive difference.
"David's penalty save lifted the crowd and boosted the team."
But Hughton is looking for more consistency from his men and added: "They are good group of lads but our form has been up and down. We haven't won enough home games and we've drawn too many."
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett is anxious his side do not lose momentum from now until the end of the season.
Blues have done well to climb to mid-table having been second bottom when Rowett took over at the start of November, but they have now failed to win in their last eight games.
Rowett said:" It was not a great performance by any stretch of the imagination.
"The penalty miss gave Brighton a massive lift and although I was pleased with the impact that our substitutes, Wesley Thomas and Lee Novak made, a point possibly would have flattered us."
Goals early in the second half from Calderon and Teixeira put Brighton 3-1 ahead and Thomas reduced the deficit before Calderon struck again. Novak was later on target for Blues in stoppage time.
Rowett added: "As a team we were a bit open generally, Teixeira cut in from the left far too easily and we needed a bit more collective desire to stop them.
"This team has worked so hard to go from second bottom and maybe now is the time to make one or two changes.
"We've lost to Blackpool, Millwall and Brighton and maybe Brighton had that bit more desire which hurts to say.
"It's small moments in games that don't fall your way, but we did have two or three very good chances.
"We did win eight of our opening 11 games and we need to get back to that form quickly."
