Dissociative Identity Disorder. The fount of all internet knowledge that is Wikipedia declares this to be the condition that most people confuse for schizophrenia, where multiple personalities emerge within a single mind. Ordinarily an affliction of the individual, there is thought to be excited talk in the psychiatric community about a case affecting an entire group, although Amber Nectar has been unable to verify rumours that a deputation of eminent psychologists will be present at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena next week hoping to witness this phenomenon first hand among this group, who have been provisionally labeled as “the Hull City AFC first team”. Preliminary evidence suggests that further study is required.

Following the avalanche of criticism for the Barnsley debacle, the Tigers made three changes to the side that so timidly surrendered at Oakwell, although two were forced upon Phil Brown by injury – the unavailability of Andy Dawson and Stephen McPhee prompted call-ups for Danny Coles and Stuart Elliott, while Dean Windass was restored to the side as Jon Parkin was finally dropped. It meant City carded: Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Coles, Delaney; Parlour, Ashbee, Livermore, Elliott; Forster, Windass.

Jon Welsh, Dean Marney and Nathan Doyle were all drafted into the squad, accompanying Parkin and Duke on the City bench. Nicholas Bendtner was dropped by Steve Bruce in favour of Dudley Campbell while ex-Colchester midfielder Neil Danns was brought into the Birmingham side at the expense of Fabrice Muamba.

The visitors kicked off attacking the North Stand, populated by about 1,500 away fans, and as the match’s commencement was marked by the heavens opening, City quickly took the upper hand. Windass rasped a low 30 yard effort that was adeptly pouched by visiting netminder Doyle, and on nine minutes it was Deano who gave the Tigers the lead. Ray Parlour collected possession wide on the right, and he turned and curled a low ball onto the penalty spot, where Windass had stolen a few yards on Bruno N’Gotty and flashed a shot past the isolated Doyle to give City a deserved early lead and score his first goal in black and amber in over a decade.

It was celebrated with more than a tinge of disbelief – still traumatised by the nightmare at Oakwell, few had anticipated anything other than a home defeat, yet even early in the game the Tigers were palpably superior to their Premiership-chasing guests in terms of commitment and, on a tired-looking pitch, craft and guile.

Michael Turner was cautioned for a cynical foul on Gary McSheffrey after quarter of an hour when Birmingham looked to be breaking dangerously, however the free kick was squandered.

A few minutes later, McSheffrey almost scored the goal of the season with speculative 40-yard shot that flew miles into the air and would have crashed down underneath Boaz Myhill’s crossbar had the City keeper not backpedalled in time to claw it to safety – he ended up entangled in the net at the expense of a corner, though mercifully not embarrassed by Birmingham’s first attempt on goal.

The industrious Forster nearly doubled the lead on 22 minutes when he harried a visiting defender into a slightly underhit backpass to Doyle and then charged down the goalkeeper’s clearance, but it bounced wide of the empty goal.

This incident didn’t appear to greatly impress the Birmingham fans, who were understandably unamused by their side’s feeble showing against one of the division’s lesser powers. However, no matter how poorly they were playing, much of the credit must go to City. Ray Parlour was not alone in rolling back the years, and he received possession from Windass to flash a shot wide as the pattern of the match remained in our favour.

Elliott was next to have a chance when Ashbee’s excellent wide ball released our cartwheeling hero, but he was unsure whether to shoot or cross with Forster lurking and his effort scuffed disappointing wide.

Elliott was involved in the game’s next pivotal moment, when Turner’s long punt downfield skidded off the sodden surface and found the Northern Ireland international bounding free of his markers towards goal. Jaidi felled him by illegal means about 25 yards from goal, and with no Birmingham player within five yards of the incident, referee Webster correctly dismissed the Tunisian for serious foul play.

A superb spell for the Tigers almost got better when Windass’ deft free-kick just flew wide of Doyle’s right hand post, and Steve Bruce reacted to his side’s numerical disadvantage by withdrawing the luckless Campbell in favour of Stephen Kelly. The Tigers remained gleefully in control, and Sam Ricketts hit a low effort from outside the area skidding towards goal which Doyle shovelled uncertainly past his post. From the corner, Ashbee sent a shot flying well over.

Mr Webster ended the first half after a couple of minutes of extra time, and the players sprang from the pitch to hearty acclaim for their superb first half, memories of Barnsley already fading as the prospect of an improbable victory against a struggling ten men came enticingly into sight.

Steve Bruce had evidently had a few robust comments for his side at the interval in addition to introducing Bendtner for Larsson, as they came haring out in search of a quick equaliser. It roused the Birmingham fans for the first time in the afternoon, curiously quiescent until this stage, however this initial burst rapidly dulled with Parlour, Ashbee and Livermore refusing to yield the midfield. Indeed, the first chance of the second half fell to Livermore, with his extravagant 25-yard drive smashing into the crossbar via the fingertips of Doyle – our principle influence in midfield has many qualities, but until now long-distance shooting has not been identified as one. Testament to the confidence flowing through the side, one supposes.

Birmingham were creaking at the back now with the prodigious workrate of the tireless Forster caused untold problems for N’Gotty, and it was he won a penalty for the Tigers in the 57^th minute when he fastened onto the ball, turned and headed to the area where a witless challenge by Taylor sent him flying to the turf and Mr Webster immediately awarded the Tigers a chance to double the lead from twelve yards.

There were no protests from the dispirited men in blue, and Dean Windass – who else? - took the ball and smacked it low and hard past Doyle’s flying dive to give City a two-goal lead. The crowd celebrated jubilantly, Barnsley forgotten, the Tigers flying once more and with results going our way, the likelihood of an immediate return to the promised land of a spot outside the bottom three.

Birmingham were beaten. Totally flattened. There was never a suggestion they’d recover from this situation. City were completely in charge of the game, and were the only side looking like adding to the scoring. Bruce replaced the quiet Cameron Jerome with the preposterously over-rated Rowan Vine, which made approximately zero impact on the direction of the match. Windass had another pop at the bemused Doyle after more good work by the tiring but still effective Elliott.

However, with the game entering the final fifteen minutes, it quietened somewhat, with neither side overly eager to expend unnecessary effort with no alteration of the outcome likely. City made their first change of the afternoon, with Ray Parlour trotting off to a standing ovation with John Welsh taking his place.

The away fans began drifting away, Elliott fired a shot over, Windass headed over…this really was total Tiger domination in the most unexpected fashion. Dean Marney replaced Livermore with a minute left, while Dean Windass was withdrawn shortly after to a fabulous reception, the hero of the 1990s vindicating the decision to bring him home in the autumn of his career.

Jon Parkin, sporting a newly shaven head, came on for a couple of minutes and was given a decent reception as he charged around in the few moments available to him before the proceedings were ended and rapturous applause was awarded to the side.

With City the only side in the bottom ten to win, this was close to the perfect afternoon. A vibrant, committed display banished the horrors of Barnsley and saw us leap two places into 22^nd. Another defeat for the ailing White Shite and a loss on the road for Southend keep them on 31 points, now a worrying four points adrift. QPR could only manage a point at home to Plymouth, putting them below the Tigers, while the failure to win for either Norwich or Luton place them within striking difference of City.

However, yesterday was principally about us. The criticism after the midweek defeat was savage – rightly so – but the response was perfect. It is pointless now attempting to forecast the outcome of the relegation battle at the foot of the Championship, surely the most compelling and unpredictable contest in English football at the moment. With Southend and Leeds slipping behind, it could be one from five to join them…or any three from six if they recover…or three from eight of the precipitous plummetings of some of those on the edge of the fight are not arrested shortly. 

We may still go down. For every Derby and Birmingham, we’ve had a Barnsley and Leeds. Phil Brown’s erratic, unpredictable, sometimes disappointing, occasionally thrilling Tigers appear almost to have a two distinct personalities warring with one another for supremacy – but it’s certainly going to make for an exciting ride. And for yesterday, the side deserves only the richest praise for continuing to offer us hope. (AD)