Paik Seung-ho spent six years in Barcelona's academy
Paik Seung-ho's first-half finish proved to be decisive as Birmingham City claimed a 1–0 Championship win over Oxford United at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.
Birmingham's South Korea international midfielder Paik struck the only goal of the game after a well-worked passing move, breaking the deadlock five minutes before the interval.
Kyogo Furuhashi also spurned two gilt-edged chances in a dominant opening 45 minutes by the hosts but Blues keeper Ryan Allsop pulled off a superb reaction save from Cameron Brannagan's long-range drive midway through.
Oxford came out livelier in the second half but a lack of potency in front of goal means it is now three losses from three games for Gary Rowett's side this season.
Although Chris Davies would be satisfied by how Birmingham grew into the game, the opening five minutes in the West Midlands were frantic.
Both sides had worthy attempts at goal as Oxford's Tyler Goodrham curled wide in the opening minute before Ethan Laird guided a header over from a dangerous free-kick at the other end.
The League One champions went close again when Willum Willumsson's clever slipped pass set up Japanese striker Furuhashi in the box, but his strike went to the right of goal.
Willumsson then danced around Oxford's defence to release Furuhashi again, but the forward shot wide of the near post.
Liverpool academy graduate Brannagan nearly made Birmingham and Furuhashi pay for their misses, however, when he forced Allsop to save down to his right.
The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before the break when former Leicester winger Demarai Gray - whose performance earned him a big round of applause by Blues fans when substituted later - rounded Oxford right-back Hidde ter Avest after receiving the ball on the left wing and cut it inside for the onrushing Paik, who calmly stroked past Jamie Cumming.
Lucky to only be 1-0 down, Oxford came out sharper in the second half, with Siriki Dembele in particular finding spaces high up the pitch.
Davies's change, introducing Tommy Doyle on 61 minutes in place of a tiring Furuhashi and pushing Jay Stansfield up front, swiftly reasserted Blues' control thanks to the England Under-21 international striker's pressing.
Despite spells of Oxford possession, nothing could be fashioned by the U's, highlighting that Birmingham, on their return to the Championship, will be hard to beat this season.
'We were the dominant team' - reaction
Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM:
"I thought it was a strong performance, obviously a very good result for us. A clean sheet, big win, performance-wise, again very, very encouraged with it.
"I thought we were the dominant team throughout. Should have had three or four goals in this game against a strong and organised team and resolute defensive good players, so I was really encouraged.
"It was exactly as I anticipated. I think we had to really focus on the process rather than the outcome.
"You're at home and people say we should beat Oxford, but I watch all these teams and I know how hard it is to beat them, how strong and disciplined they are, so for us it was just trying to focus on our process and try to be relentless with that."
Davies: 'We should have won by four goals today'
Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
"They [Birmingham City] moved the ball really well… because they've invested heavily in players, they can just keep the ball at will and they're very good at it.
"I thought actually first half we held our position really, really well. We were quite aggressive in the way that we played.
"We started to show a little bit more composure and bravery on the ball and actually got in some really good positions.
"I think the challenge in these games, and the challenge we found last season as well, is you can have a 30-minute spell against these teams where you actually keep them at bay, get in some really good positions and just as that little bit of fatigue starts creeping in, you start giving the ball away on transition, you just start, maybe not getting out quite as quickly and aggressively and then they find space.
"They're the moments that are quite difficult to manage."
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