Tony Mowbray praised Birmingham after they “found a way” to edge a lively 2-1 win at Stoke.
The new boss stretched his unbeaten start to three games in all competitions as Blues rose to eight points above the relegation zone.
“I’m really pleased for the supporters behind the goal,” said Mowbray.
“It’s my first experience of the away support from Birmingham City and it was big and loud and noisy; it’s great that they could celebrate a win.
“We found a way today and that’s the important thing in football but we can’t play like we did in that second half every week because we won’t win many matches.”
Jay Stansfield opened the scoring inside 10 minutes as he rifled home his eighth league goal of the season.
The Potters responded positively to their early setback but struggled to convert their dominance into chances.
And the visitors capitalised shortly after the restart thanks to Juninho Bacuna’s exquisite free-kick from 25 yards.
Jordan Thompson halved the hosts’ arrears late on, but Birmingham held on for a vital victory.
“First half, the game plan was good and we looked like we could break away and score,” Mowbray added.
“That’s probably the best football that Stoke have played for a long time and Steven (Schumacher) deserves a lot of credit for that.
“They were good today and in the second half, we went into protection mode, but we managed to see it out.
“You can give your team organisation and structure and I thought we saw the game out well today against as good a Stoke team as I’ve seen.
“I like a lot of what we’ve got at this football club; I’ve just got to change the mentality a little bit.
“The vast majority of them are very humble and hard-working and it’s hurt them where they are, but we’re only here to win now.”
It was a frustrating afternoon for Stoke, whose five-match unbeaten start under Steven Schumacher came to an end.
Bae Jun-ho struck the bar, Michael Rose failed to convert from close-range and Ryan Mmaee missed a host of chances for the toothless Potters.
“It was disappointing to lose it and I don’t think we deserved to lose it,” said Schumacher.
“The performance was good bar a couple mistakes, but it’s two brilliant bits of quality that has decided the outcome.
“We got more in the dangerous areas than Birmingham did, but we didn’t make the most of it, so that’s disappointing.
“It’s important that we are creating chances; that wasn’t the case a few weeks ago, so now I need the lads to show their quality and composure.
“With the way we’ll play and the way we’ll get forward, they’ll get chances so now we’ve got to find a way to take them.
“I’ve got belief in the squad; the players have got quality but they’ve got to make the most of big opportunities.”
Dream debut: Dixon shines with goal, assist on debut for Charlton U21s in 3-2 win over Watford
Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon was on the scoresheet in his debut for Charlton Athletic U21s in a 3-2 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday.
Charlton took the lead after just two minutes through a goal from Henry Rylah before Watford got their equalizer through Mamadou Doumbia a minute later.
The 19-year-old Dixon, who joined the League One club from Arnett Gardens in August, then capitalized from a defensive mistake by Watford to put his team up 2-1.
Charlton then went two goals clear thanks to Mile Leaburn, who was assisted by Dixon.
Doumbia got his second goal of the game to finish the scoring at 3-2.
Charlton U21s now have 19 points in seven games in the Professional Development League.
The win strengthens lead atop the table to six points.
They will next take on Brentford U21s on October 1.
Alcaraz beaten on Laver Cup debut with Zverev in doubles
Carlos Alcaraz suffered defeat on his Laver Cup debut, as he was beaten in straight sets alongside Alexander Zverev in doubles by Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Team Europe put up a strong fight but struggled to match Fritz and Shelton, who won 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in one hour and 37 minutes.
Alcaraz and Zverev made a slow start to the match, losing their serve in the fourth game as the Americans went on a three-game winning streak, but they pulled it back to level the tie, only to lose the tie-break.
Team Europe looked to have found their groove in the second set but failed to convert four break points in the fourth game as Fritz and Shelton levelled the score at 2-2.
A three-game winning run at the end of the set, including one more break, was enough to get Team World over the line, pulling them back to 2-2 at the end of day one.
Francisco Cerundolo had originally given Team World the lead with a shock win over Casper Ruud before Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov's wins had put Team Europe 2-1 up.
Walter proud of 'courageous' Hull after comeback win
Tim Walter says he is proud of his "courageous" Hull City side after earning his first win in charge, beating Stoke City 3-1.
Narcis Pelach led the Potters out for the first time on Friday and saw his side take a 1-0 lead through Ben Wilmot into half-time.
However, Hull came out fighting in the second half to claim three points for the first time this season.
Kasey Palmer saw a penalty saved just after the hour mark but turned in the rebound before goals from Regan Slater and an own goal from Wilmot completed their late turnaround.
It is a win that propels the Tigers from 19th to 13th in the Championship, above Stoke, and Walter believes it has been a long time coming.
"It's hard to describe because I never had this feeling before. I've never not had a win in five games, so for me, it's a new situation," Walter told Sky Sports.
"But I also knew the whole time that we can win. Today we did it and that's the reason I'm really proud of my boys. They deserved to win.
"I'm happy because they always believed they can win and that's important.
"After conceding the goal, we were better. We were more courageous. We showed more bravery and that's the key to the result."
Pelach succeeded Steven Schumacher as Stoke's manager following his shock sacking earlier this week, having won two of the five matches under the Englishman at the start of the season.
Stoke managed 14 shots against Hull, but only two efforts on target, with both of those coming in the first 45 minutes.
Despite starting with a defeat, Pelach is looking for the positives after such a short time with the squad.
"It's a pity we couldn't win the game," Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We wanted to take the points, but I think the lads tried to put a new style of play in place.
"But in the second half, we lost control and ran out of energy. We should have pressed more, but we will try to explain this tomorrow and keep working on the defensive style.
"There is some things to work on mentally and we will do it. We will take the positives, and we will improve."
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