Birmingham boss Chris Hughton feels his side were taught a lesson as the harsh realities of European football came home to roost.
In their Europa League Group H opener against last season's beaten finalists Braga, the quality of finishing from the Portuguese side was the underlying difference at St Andrew's as the Blues suffered a 3-1 defeat.
"I've no arguments with the result," said Hughton.
"What we saw in Braga was a team who once they got into the forward areas and close to goal, they were more clinical and showed better quality than we did.
"At 2-1 we were the team in the ascendancy, and if anybody was going to get the next goal, then it was possibly going to be us.
"But when you are playing against a side of the quality of Braga that have the experience they do, there is always the possibility of getting caught on the counter-attack, and that is what happened."