Birmingham City 1-0 Hull City

Arsenal loanee Jon Toral has scored seven times for Birmingham City this season

Ex-Birmingham boss Steve Bruce's hopes of a happy return to St Andrew's were wrecked as Hull lost to a deflected first-half strike from Jon Toral.

Bruce's Tigers had only needed a point to return to the top of the Championship table.

The only goal came on 14 minutes when Toral's low, left-foot drive went in off ex-Blues defender Curtis Davies.

In soggy conditions, Hull hit the woodwork twice through Jake Livermore and Michael Dawson.

Hull were also denied a penalty when Abel Hernandez's second-half shot was blocked by Paul Robinson's arm.

• Birmingham 1-0 Hull as it happened

The second half could not quite match the drama of a first 45 minutes, which could have quite easily been 3-3 by the break.

Hull had already wasted a great chance when right-back Moses Odubajo blazed over at the far post before Blues scored.

Toral tried his luck from outside the box and the ball took a wicked deflection off Davies to nestle neatly into Allan McGregor's right-hand corner.

Livermore then cannoned a shot against the post and Dawson's header hit the bar as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

McGregor made a stunning reflex save to deny Clayton Donaldson's overhead kick, before Toral headed just wide from David Cotterill's cross.

After the break, home goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak made a double save late on to deny a fierce left-foot strike from Robert Snodgrass, before also keeping out the follow-up effort from Sam Clucas.

Blues have now won six of their last seven home league games and are within a point of the play-off places.

Key stats

• Before Thursday's defeat, Hull had lost only once in 2016 - a 1-0 defeat at Burnley in 6 February.

• Toral's goal was the first Hull had conceded for 477 minutes, during which time they had kept clean sheets at Blackburn, Arsenal (in the FA Cup) and Ipswich.

• Steve Bruce's side have conceded just 20 goals in 34 league games this season, yet they still do not boast the meanest defence in the division - an honour that belongs to third-placed Middlesbrough (17).

• Bruce still remains on course to win promotion to the top flight for a second time with Hull, a feat which he achieved with Birmingham in 2002 and 2007.

Match reaction

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett told BBC WM: "We were really good, but we had to be as Hull are a big powerful team who recover their shape very quickly. They're the most complete team in the division.

"We had to ride our luck. They hit the post and the bar and Tomasz Kuszczak made a fantastic save for us in the second half, but we created a lot of chances and could have scored more than one ourselves.

"I was pleased with the way we showed what we can do after Saturday, when I was so annoyed that I did not talk to one of the players."

Hull manager Steve Bruce: "We created enough chances to win two games and we dominated the game really. We did everything but score, then we've lost to a deflected goal.

"When that went in, you're already thinking it's going to be one of those nights. These things happen at this time of year.

"But there's still a lot of points to be played for and a lot of water to flow under the bridge yet. Birmingham have still got all the top sides to come here so I'm sure they'll do us a favour."