Nicky Butt admitted that the crowd had been justified in their criticism of him since he arrived at St Andrew's, but intends to set the record straight after his matchwining goal against Fulham.

The on-loan Newcastle midfielder snared his second goal of the campaign six minutes from time to cap arguably his best performance in a Birmingham shirt.

It has been a season of toil for Butt as he has struggled to find his form and he was dropped to the bench for Monday's defeat against West Ham United.

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However, Steve Bruce recalled him in his new-look 'dogs of war' team and Butt responded by producing an energetic performance culminating with his priceless winning goal.

Yet for long periods of this fixture, it looked as though it would be another frustrating afternoon for supporters and Butt confessed they had been short-changed this season.

"The crowd have been on players backs this season and rightly so," he said.

"Some of us have come here with big names and have not been playing as well as we could do and they expect us to do better.

"It has been justified because the crowd pay good money to come to watch this football club. They work all week long to earn their wages and they are coming here and paying their money. If we are not doing as well as we should be doing then they have a right to get on our backs.

"Not winning a home game until December isn't a good statistic, but if you keep looking backwards in football then you will fall flat on your backside.

"It is time to look forward and kick on and hopefully we can climb that table and kick on from here."

The end justified the means for Birmingham, as Butt's goal hoisted them above Portsmouth and left them hanging on the coattails of Albion and Villa.

It also dragged Fulham back into the dog-fight at the foot of the table and gave Bruce his first ever Premiership home victory over a Fulham side that was his bIte noire

"It wasn't a classic game where you passed the ball and it was not an enjoyable football match, but we got stuck in," continued Butt.

"It's important not to get carried away from this result though and work hard for the next one.

It is a boost for the crowd, manager, players, directors and chairman. It isn't nice playing football in front of fans that are edgy, as it transmits to the players.

"I missed a sitter two minutes before I scored so I was glad I had the opportunity to make amends," said Butt, describing his late headed goal

"Emile (Heskey) had been flicking the ball on all game, so I just took a gamble."

"It was a long time coming and I think when you have been playing so badly, and not getting results, you do tend to think 'oh no it's happening again,'

"But credit to the lads, as I think right from the word go we played better than we have done in recent weeks.

"We gave it our all and got a result in the end." Marcos Painter made an assured Premiership debut at left- back and Butt was impressed with the 19-yearold's contribution.

Butt was clutching a sponsor's bottle of champagne after his performance, but he felt the accolades should have gone elsewhere.

"I thought Marcos was excellent at left-back and he deserved to be man of the match, while Emile was brilliant as well," enthused Butt.

"David Dunn is a great player too and he just needs games now. He came off with ten minutes to go and he is going to feel it in his legs after being out for so long, but his talent shows out on football pitch.

"There are players like myself who work hard and put their foot in, but you need players who break defences down.

"You aren't going to do that with five or six players up front and in midfield who just win the ball.

"You have to have players who can do that extra bit of magic and David is that sort of player.

"I am also pleased for the manager, as he has got a very difficult job, as has any manager around the country.

"We train hard all week but, as soon as it comes to match days and you cross that white line, then there is not much a manager can do.

"He can influence substitutions but if the players aren't doing it for him on the pitch there is only so much he can do.

"We haven't played well and I'm not trying to hide that fact, but I don't think we have had too much luck either. Hopefully the tide will change.