Duff believes draw fair as Eustace argues Blues case

There were contrasting views on the touchline yesterday afternoon as Birmingham and Swansea City shared the spoils in South Wales.

Both sides had good chances to take all three points on opening day with Carl Ashworth solid in the home goal and the Blues grateful for the thickness of the bar from Harry Darling’s header.

In a scrappy affair a point each was probably the fair result with Duff pleased at the fight shown by his team in adversity.

“I have mixed feelings really. I thought we came on really strong in the second half,” he said.

“I thought we also came on strong in the second half of the first half, and that was the frustration in that Birmingham did not have to do anything to get their goal.

“It was a really poor goal. To make that decision in the 45th minute, we do not want that.

“We have had to score a really good goal, whereas they did not really have to do anything to score their goal.

“But I thought the fitness levels were excellent, I thought they were absolutely out on their feet towards the end.

“We hit the crossbar, had one cleared off the line and had a goal disallowed.

“So there were lots of positives within it, I thought the spirit the players showed after going 1-0 down – when it could be easy to think it’s going to be one of those days was excellent.

“We kept knocking on the door right up to the 98th minute, I thought it was an even game, but I thought we did enough to shade it.”

Eustace on the other hand believed his side should have won the game.

“I thought we were very dominant and played very well. We gave them the goal. Apart from that, I don’t think they had many clear-cut chances. One that hit the bar from a scrap.

“I thought we were excellent today, with and without the ball. We came here to a very difficult place against a good team and gave a really good account of ourselves.”