Escape from hell for Mel
gesture of apology to the fans, Morris and boss Phillip Cocu walked along the touchline and were applauded by home fans.
Morris also mingled in supporters’ areas before the game to say sorry for the turbulent week.
Cocu said: “The chairman knows how important the relationship is between the fans and the club. People make mistakes and you have to accept the consequences because you have to take responsibility, also outside in your life.
“We will take disciplinary action towards the players but we also have to continue forward in the game of football.”
As for handing the captaincy to Davies, 32, Cocu said: “I thought it was best to give Curtis the captaincy. It was related to all that happened, yes.”
Fresh from his last-gasp equaliser at Leeds, Derby’s Chris Martin swept home a Duane Holmes cross after just 86 seconds.
It was 2-0 when Martyn Waghorn slid the ball in.
Gary Gardner headed home Dan Crowley’s corner then Ivan Sunjic thundered in a Birmingham equaliser.
Derby were on their knees now but Lukas Jutkiewicz’s 70th-minute penalty was saved by Kelle Roos and the Rams won it thanks to Jamie Paterson.
Blues boss Pep Clotet said: “We deserved something – absolutely. But we were punished for the little mistakes we made.”
BIRMINGHAM 4 ........ Shots on Target .........6 3 ........ Shots off Target .........4 2 ................Corners .................9 9 .................. Fouls .................. 18 3 ............... Offsides ..................1 76.3 ... Passing Success % .... 74.7 396 ...... Total Passes ........ 376 50........ Possession % ........ 50 38.3 .Territorial Adv % ... 61.7