Image source, Rex Features

Not sure too many saw this coming, but Blues are good value for this lead.

They certainly deserved to be ahead, thanks to Scott Hogan's 83rd career goal - and his 25th for Blues, more than at any of his previous clubs.

But the second on the stroke of half-time from PP does not flatter them.

Danny Schofield has a big team talk to give.

All John Eustace can say is '45 minutes more like that please lads'

Blues win another corner, their fourth of the night, but loan defender Auston Trusty's header is too high.

Huddersfield counter but then Blues counter straight back.

More end-to-end this than much of the football seen at St Andrew's last season.

Another Birmingham near miss as Jordan James' speculative ball over the top from the left almost gets Bacuna in, down the inside-right channel, but he just fails to connect.

Second booking for Huddersfield as Jon Russell clumsily fetches down Bacuna.

Dangerous place too, on the edge of the box.

Bacuna slides the free-kick square to his left for PP, but the on-loan winger's effort is blocked.

Postpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 5 August 2022

20:16 BST 5 August 2022

Birmingham 1-0 Huddersfield

Great raid down the left by the nippy Przemyslaw Placheta but Troy Deeney's attempted cushioned knockdown comes off the wrong part of his bonce and cannons harmlessly to a grateful Huddersfield defender.

Placheta is looking very useful. Unfortunately his name isn't. Nightmare to type properly, never pronounce correctly.

In line with what I heard BBC Radio WM's Daz Hale say earlier, I shall call him PP for the rest of the night.

Great save by Blues keeper John Ruddy who goes to his right to parry an explosive right-foot effort from Josh Ruffels.

Town then quickly win their third corner.

Growing into the game now.

Huddersfield's Sorba Thomas is the first name in referee Gavin Ward's notebook tonight, for a challenge on Placheta.

Tough call and he did try to talk his way out of it, but it is a booking nonetheless.

Blues win another corner wide on the right, taken by Juninho Bacuna, who then delivers a dangerous looking low cross but this time the lino's flag goes up.

Image source, Getty Images

Huddersfield are trying to settle things down after that shock start, to get a foothold in this game.

But new Blues boss John Eustace looks like he's sent out a team full of desire.

Juninho Bacuna is next to have a pop, skewing an ambitious right-foot volley just wide from the corner of the box,

Birmingham City's stadium capacity may still be restricted due to the ongoing work in the lower tier of two of the main stands, but that did not stop the roof nearly coming off when that goal went in.

The Blues fans sound in good voice.

First save from Lee Nicholls to deny Blues new boy Przemyslaw Piacheta at his near post.

All set up by a neat move involving skipper Troy Deeney and Scott Hogan.

And then . . .

Image source, Rex Features

But then Blues' new keeper John Ruddy - on his home debut - has to be smartly out to hoof clear at the other end

Encouraging start for Blues who win their first corner in their first attack. Troy Deeney's far post header causes mild panic but the Terriers clear their lines.

The sun's out, Birmingham are in their traditional royal blue and Huddersfield are decked out in their not-so-traditional all pink, with white bibs.

It's eye-catching, that's for sure.

Blues have huddled, four out of the 22 players have taken the knee, Gavin Ward has whistled his first whistle and we're off . . .

ELO and Mr Blue Sky is playing and the teams are in the tunnel.

John Eustace has named an unchanged Birmingham City side for his first game in charge.

Huddersfield Town boss Danny Schofield has made two changes, bringing in Jack Rudoni for his first Town start, as well returning on-loan midfielder Tino Anjorin.

The referee is Gavin Ward.

Not the former Sutton Coldfield-born goalkeeper Gavin Ward, who played just about everywhere - and is now QPR's keeper coach.

While both sides are still looking for their first goal this season, Blues are at least on the points board.

But they are winless in their last seven Championship games, a run of three draws, including last Saturday's 0-0 season opener at Luton, and four defeats, dating back to their 1-0 home victory over Steve Bruce's West Bromwich Albion in 3 April.

This is their longest winless run since going 14 games without a league victory in the delayed Covid season under Pep Clotet (and caretaker boss Steve Spooner) between February and July 2020.

Huddersfield are playing for the second successive Friday night, having been beaten 1-0 by Vincent Kompany's Burnley in their season opener.

But the Terriers have won on five of their last eight league visits to St Andrew's, the most recent being their 2-0 victory in February.

On-loan Levi Colwill and Lewis O'Brien, now with Nottingham Forest, got the goals. Neither player is still with them.

In contrast to Birmingham City's relief at still simply just being at this level, there was always going to be a slight air of frustration hanging around for Huddersfield, at still being stuck in the Championship, thinking about what they might have won.

What is more, they too have had their own off-field issues to contend with. It was fully five days after City sacked Lee Bowyer that Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan became the next Championship mamager to depart his post, on 7 July.

Even less time to prepare! But the Terriers sorted that one internally by inviting Danny Schofield, one of Corberan's key coaching advisors, to take over the summer squad rebuilding.

Image source, Getty Images

On top of Spanish defender Pipa going to Olympiakos, and fellow defender Naby Sarr heading the list of those released, as well as on-loan pair Levi Colwill (Chelsea) and Danel Sinani (Norwich) returning to their parent clubs, there have been other moves out. Just two weeks after Corberan's exit, full-back Harry Toffolo and midfielder Lewis O'Brien became the next high profile departees, joining Nottingham Forest for a combined £10m.

Of the 11 players that started the play-off final by Forest in May, it means just five are still at the John Smith's Stadium.

But, although two of Town's summer signings David Kasumu and Connor Mahoney were made the day before Corberan's depature was announced, Schofield has since made three more additions, Yuta Nakayama and Jack Rudoni, as well as the return of on-loan Chelsea midfielder Tino Anjorin, and all three, as well as Kasumu, were involved in last week's home defeat by Burnley.

It has been a long, hot and immensely frustrating summer in limbo for Birmingham City.

This is Blues' 12th successive season at second-tier level since being relegated from the top flight in 2011, the same season they lifted the League Cup at Wembley.

And, after a decade of disappointment (except for two years of genuine hope under Gary Rowett), Blues fans were led to believe that this summer a change of ownership was on the cards.

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But it has all so far turned out to be a load of hot air - and the only actual occurrence of any note on the east side of the city was the long-drawn-out departure of Lee Bowyer as head coach, and the appointment of John Eustace as his successor.

Even that only happened two days after the 1 July transfer contracts turnover date, leaving Eustace just four weeks to prepare for the new season.

But it was time enough to get five players in - and Blues began solidly enough last Saturday with a dour, but at least productive goalless point from another of last term's beaten play-off contenders Luton. Anything more than that right now, both last week and tonight, for most realistic Blues fans, is a bonus.