There was no big fanfare to welcome Gianfranco Zola and no dream start as Brighton and Hove Albion snatched two late goals to pass another stern test of their promotion credentials.
It was no surprise that Zola made a subdued entry as Birmingham City’s new manager, given the controversy surrounding Gary Rowett’s sacking in midweek, but it looked as if he would get off to the best possible start after Lukas Jutkiewicz’s sixth goal of the season.
But Brighton once again showed the tremendous character and resilience which has established them in the Championship’s automatic promotion places when Antony Knockaert produced an excellent finish to haul them level before Glenn Murray headed home a winner in stoppage time.
That transformed the whole mood around St Andrew’s after Jutkiewicz had risen to score once again with his head early in the second half.
The dramatic turnaround extended Brighton’s unbeaten run to 16 matches which means they remain a point behind Newcastle.
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Zola could, however, have been presented with a perfect opening had Maikel Kieftenbeld not been guilty of a glaring miss 37 seconds into the game as he rattled the post with a close-range shot when Jutkiewicz’s cross found him unmarked six yards out.
No doubt eager to impress their new manager, Birmingham showed plenty of endeavour in the opening exchanges, but Brighton regained their composure after the initial scare. Brighton were indebted to Shane Duffy’s intervention with his head when a fiercely-struck shot from Jonathan Grounds shot appeared to be bound for the top corner.
Duffy looked dazed for a few minutes afterwards, but his central defensive partner Lewis Dunk was alert to the next threat from Birmingham.
Jutkiewicz had posed the biggest threat to Brighton, and he gave Birmingham the lead seven minutes after the break, rising above Duffy to firmly head home a cross floated into the box by David Davis.
Hughton responded by making two changes and it was Solly March’s introduction which gave them more of an attacking threat down the left as they pressed for an equaliser. March delivered the cross which Knockaert volleyed in eight minutes from time and when Knockaert swung over a corner in stoppage time, Murray headed home.
Star man: Anthony Knockaert (Brighton)
Team line-ups
Brighton: Stockdale 6, Bruno 6, Duffy 6, Dunk 7, Bong 6, Knockaert 8, Stephens 7, Sidwell 6 (Norwood 62min, 6), Skalak 5 (March 62min, 7), Murray 6, Baldock 6 (Hemed 71min, 5) Substitutes: Ankergren, Pocognoli, Goldson, Towell