Vaulks switch spot-on

get better in the final third. You can see that – it’s as clear as day.

“The top teams have the best players in those areas because they have moments and they produce. We will bring people in for those areas this summer.”

This game might well have been a relegation decider if it wasn’t for the points deductions given to Derby and Reading.

It was low on quality, other than Bela’s finish which was as needle-sharp as the through ball from Juninho Bacuna. But when Cardiff rallied, Birmingham finally subsided when former Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge brought down Max Watters to give away the penalty.

Brum boss Lee Bowyer, now with just one win from the last nine games, said: “We didn’t do too much wrong, but it’s another case of dropping two points.”