Birmingham received an inspirational pep talk from NFL great Tom Brady before a last-gasp victory against Leeds that boss John Eustace dedicated to the late Trevor Francis.
A sold-out St Andrew’s celebrated the club’s greatest ever player and an exciting future under new ownership as Daniel Farke’s relegated side came to the second city.
It is a month since American businessman Tom Wagner completed his takeover at Birmingham, who nine days ago saw seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady join as minority owner.
The former NFL star enjoyed a memorable first trip to St Andrew’s, visiting a local pub before meeting the players and watching a 1-0 stoppage-time win.
“The new owners came into the dressing room just as I was coming out and congratulated the lads,” Blues boss Eustace said. “It’s great to see Tom Brady in there as well.
“Tom spoke to the group before our meeting today, so that is great to have one of the most famous sporting people in the world come down and chat to the group.
“They were all very excited to listen to him and he gave us some real good words of advice.
“I think you can see today his presence at the club (is a benefit), the vision that he’s got for the football club is amazing.
“He wants this football club to be a world brand, he wants this Birmingham City family now all over the world, which is what we all want.
“We want this magnificent football club to grow and get better and be known all around the world.
“We’ve got a great person to come in and do that.”
Substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz’s stoppage-time penalty was the difference at the end of a tense match that began with a heartfelt tribute to Birmingham great Francis following his death in July.
“I’m delighted with the performance for the whole game,” Eustace said. “We dedicate that winner to Trevor Francis and his family. I think it marked a real special occasion.
“The boys today were outstanding with and without the ball.
“Tactically you have to be spot on against an excellent Leeds team and I think the level of concentration and the way the boys went about their business today was superb.”
Leeds counterpart Daniel Farke felt like a point would have been deserved from Saturday’s performance at St Andrew’s where the relegated side’s shortcomings were obvious.
“(This job) is exactly what I would have expected because I have been in the situation before,” the Leeds boss said.
“I know after relegation it’s never easy for the club. There is a hangover.
“It’s more like you’re getting used to having disappointing results (when relegated), there’s always question marks especially in the first transfer window.
“What makes it a bit different is the situation with the contract. We spoke quite openly about it, that there are exit clauses that makes the situation obviously also quite difficult.
“But I knew this before and, yeah, my decision for this massive club was really with full commitment and also totally convinced that we can lead the club in the middle and long term to success.
“We knew that the start would be bumpy and would be tricky and it’s not the easiest shop at the moment, but I mentioned before if it would be it would be easy everyone could do this and it wouldn’t be that much fun to turn our fate around.
“I know that it’s a hell of a task. I said this even in my first press conference and especially during August we have to be a bit patient.”
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