Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Birmingham’s hopes of securing a league and cup double suffered a hammer blow against Peterborough as they were beaten 2-0.
Despite entering the final as strong favourites, the Blues were far from their best at Wembley, with a number of Birmingham players disappointing against the Posh.
Chris Davies also came in for criticism for his team selection, something which Blues fans believe cost them on the day.
Birmingham supporters would have no doubt been desperate to see Tom Brady lift the Vertu Trophy, but Troy Deeney believes their Wembley defeat could actually be a ‘blessing in disguise’ ahead of next season.
Troy Deeney speaks on EFL Trophy disappointment
Deeney sang the praises of Jay Stansfield prior to kickoff, but the striker however would disappoint like many of his Blues teammates.
With this in mind, the former Watford man is now hoping Birmingham can learn from their Wembley disappointment.
Speaking on Sky Sports post-match, Deeney said:
“It could be a blessing in disguise [losing EFL trophy final], because everything since the new ownership has come in has gone up, we’ve been on a massive trajectory of going up and being great.
“Sometimes you need a humbling experience and this may be that for them, because if they’d have won this and won the league with 100 points they’re on to go and get.
“They go into next season and think right, we’re going to get promoted, that’s not how football works, football has a way of humbling you.
“Birmingham and Birmingham City fans, myself included, have to take today and say right, how can we build from this, this occasion wasn’t good enough.
“Tom Brady has been there, the owners have been there, they know you’ve lost but you’ve lost by not putting your best foot forward and when you don’t deliver the best version of yourself it’s a long old evening.
“That’s what Wagner and Brady will be saying to them now, remember this feeling, remember how this feels when you lose because that will be what carries us forward.”
A small bump in the Birmingham journey
Having already secured promotion to the Championship next season, Brady and Co shouldn’t get too bogged down about the Peterborough loss.
Birmingham have broken records this season and they possess a squad of players more than ready to fight in the Championship.
With the club on an upward trend and no hint of relenting, Birmingham will likely look back on this final in years to come as a small bump in the road.