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There was a good- sized Clarets contingent, making their presence, and support, clear throughout the match. We needed optimism, and a sense of humour, given some of our defending. It took all of 60 seconds, by my watch, for Birmingham to threaten our goal. Lee Bowyer really should have scored from a good Jerome cross instead of heading wide from about six yards out. Cue black humour - "That's why we're going down," came the chant from the away end. You couldn't argue. I know we were already relegated, but some of the defending was shaky.
The Beast made a fine save from a powerful Jerome shot on 17 minutes. Encouraging! Sadly, it didn't take too much longer for the first Birmingham goal, and again perhaps inevitably, it was tinged with farce.
Larsson crossed and Jerome - God knows how he managed it - directed the ball sideways with his chest, despite being directly in front of goal. And...it deflected in off the Beast. So many poor goals conceded this season.
We never really looked convincing, although there was some passion and energy. Pato gave it everything, as usual, He made Vignal look very ordinary, and beat him with ease. Jack Cork was calm and effective in his play, and - wherever he ends up next season - is a great prospect for the future. Steven Fletcher put in a better performance than of late. Joe Hart struggled to keep out one excellent shot by him at the start of the second half. Let's hope that he is committed to staying with us. And it was good to see Wade - especially in the second half - getting back to some of his best form.
But Birmingham stuck to their guns, and showed why their first season back in the Prem has gone better than ours (helped also bye some hefty foreign investment, of course). With the first half drawing to an end, Mr Walton gave a very soft free kick for what looked like an excellent Caldwell tackle on Jerome. Johnson headed McFadden's free-kick back across and Benitez - off his chest, which was more accurate than Jerome's - turned it in. No help needed from the Beast this time.
We continued to alternate between positive attacking play and woeful defending. Pressure finally paid off and there was faint hope of a comeback when Thompson - a late substitute -planted the ball past Hart with 5 minutes left. It was not to be - yet another away defeat.
We go down in a stronger position - financially and in terms of the team - than Hull or Pompey. Those who want away - Eagles and Nugent (who won't be missed, on his performance today) will be replaced There is enough skill in midfield and attack - but the defence must improve, if we are to meet Mr Laws' prediction of "doing a West Brom" Dare to Dream indeed...
I've enjoyed our season in the Prem. I wish that we had stayed up, but I am glad that we haven't over-stretched financially to try and do so. I genuinely believe we can come back up next season. I would be even more confident with a manager in whom we all - players and supporters - can have faith.
See you at the Mad Stad, Ashton Gate, ...