Birmingham boss Chris Davies said “we’ve got the football but we’ve got the fight as well” at the conclusion to their record-breaking season.
Davies’ side had already broken the record for most points in an EFL season with a game to spare, and their 2-1 win against Cambridge saw them end the campaign on 111 – 19 ahead of nearest challengers Wrexham.
The two sides will be separated by two divisions next season, with Cambridge relegated after four years in the third tier, nine points adrift of safety.
Davies said: “I’ve said to the players in there, 111 points is another bit of history. It’s only possible if you’re a proper team, to get that amount of points.
“You can play football, and we can play, but we’ve got heart and soul and we got to fight and scrap as well.
“Without that we’d never have achieved that level of points in venues like this. It was a horrible, scrappy game and we had to dig in to get what we wanted.
“We’ve done that so many times, and that’s why we’ve got what we have. We’ve got the football but we’ve got the fight as well.”
Lukas Jutkiewicz pressured Kell Watts into an own goal on his final professional appearance.
“He came on and he had three or four chances all from his own movement and being in the right place,” added Davies.
“He was looking like he was going to score. It’s one of those goals where his presence influenced that goal and it’s gone in the back of the net. I’m so pleased for him that he’s finished like that.”
Cambridge boss Neil Harris cut an upbeat figure despite a 26th defeat of the season.
“I was obviously disappointed with the result, I can’t be any prouder of the performance,” Harris said.
“For 70 minutes we were excellent. I don’t think there should be any doubt about any Cambridge United fan in the ground today about buying their season tickets for next year, because what they saw there should excite them for next season.
“We played with a purpose, with passion, with quality, with resilience. We had to defend well. The best team I’ve ever seen in League One hardly had a shot on goal. They scored two goals past us, one’s a cross that flies in the top corner, and the second’s an own goal.
“Our performance was excellent until the red card, then we were really backs to the walls. Even then there was a real desire to protect our goal. I’m so pleased with so many aspects of that, proud of the performance today and look forward to next season.
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- 3 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 4 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 5 Newcastle beat 10-man Chelsea to take step towards Champions League spot
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- 7 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
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- 9 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
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