HAPPY DEAN IS FEELING GRAIT AGAIN

BIRMINGHAM captain Harlee Dean insists he has put the nightmare of last season behind him, thanks to Aitor Karanka.

Dean (above) was given the armband after new boss Karanka canvassed the dressing room.

And the rejuvenated defender admitted: “I’m enjoying playing football. I feel galvanised, I feel refreshed, I feel confident personally, which again is night and day from last year when we didn’t know if we were coming or going.

“I think the less said about the last year the better because as a team we’re trying to forget it. It’s a new era, a new chapter and a new squad, new management squad and hopefully we can be successful. I think the gaffer is ruthless like that and that’s exactly what is needed.”

Birmingham conceded their first goal of the season – a Kieran Sadlier penalty – but recovered to equalise from the spot too through Jeremie Bela. Dean had a first-half header chalked off for offside.

City were second best for the first 45 minutes but recovered to dominate after the break.

Rotherham boss Paul Warne believes his promoted side’s fitness levels are proving a challenge to Championship teams who were back for the restart and have since had a shorter off-season.

Warne said: “We’re a really fit bunch. I think it’s going to take a lot of games for everyone to get on song.”

BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 7, Colin 6, Dean 7, Friend 6, Pedersen 6, Sanchez 8, Sunjic 8 (Gardner 76, 6), Clayton 7, Bela 6, Jutkiewicz 6, Hogan 5 (Toral 66, 5) ROTHERHAM: Blackman 7, Harding 7, Ihiekwe 7, A MacDonald 7, Jones 7, Ogbene 6, S MacDonald 6, Wiles 6, Miller 6 (Sadlier 69, 6), Crooks 5, Hirst 5 (Smith 61, 6)

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