HUDDERSFIELD Town fans, what a difference four days – and James Vaughan – makes.
Limp against Leicester, Town were bright and bold at Birmingham as they found the perfect antidote to two home defeats by chalking up a deserved third successive victory on the road.
And while Jermaine Beckford stroked home his first goal for the club to seal the three-point haul which put Simon Grayson’s side back into the play-off places, it was fellow loan man Vaughan who was the catalyst for this much-improved performance.
Back after missing the losses to Watford and Leicester because of a groin injury, the Brummie stuck the knife into the club he has supported since childhood.
Vaughan, playing on the right side of a three-man frontline, tore out of the blocks, and home right-back Paul Robinson had a torrid time thanks to the Norwich man’s movement, energy and sheer endeavour.
The rest of the side followed suit and the tone was set inside the first minute when the bustling Beckford outmuscled centre-back Curtis Davies on the left and delivered a penetrative low cross for the eager Vaughan to shoot wide on the turn.
Danny Ward, playing wide left, got in on the act as well, and you sensed Birmingham, and their fans, knew they were in for another difficult afternoon against Yorkshire opposition.
Click below to open a match action picture gallery snapped from pitchside
Mr Blue Sky boomed out as the teams took the pitch (like Vaughan and Jasper Carrott, the ELO leader is a lifelong Birmingham fan).
But former Town boss Lee Clark must be in something of a dark place.
His team needed to impress after a crushing 5-0 defeat by Barnsley in their last home game but looked short on confidence.
They had their moments as Nathan Redmond crashed a bending shot against a post in the first half before Alex Smithies made fine saves from the impressive Chris Burke and Wade Elliott in the second.
Did you go to Birmingham? We've snapped some of the fans who made the trip - are you pictured? Find out below
