Barbosa happy with Braga recipe at St Andrew's

After his two goals guaranteed last season's UEFA Europa League finalists SC Braga a winning start to this campaign, Hélder Barbosa acknowledged his side had been fully tested by Birmingham City FC. Team-mate Alan praised the "intensity" of Chris Hughton's hosts, while Blues pair David Murphy and Nathan Redmond remained confident their side could advance from Group H.

Hélder Barbosa, Braga midfielder
It was complicated, but we came out on top. I hope not to stop [scoring], though I owe a lot to my team-mates. It was important to win this one for our confidence, but now we have five more important games. It's difficult [to adapt to a new-look team], but we still have quality in our side. The atmosphere was fantastic, with a full stadium all applauding us. It's great to play in these conditions. It was great.

Alan, Braga forward
We knew it would be a very intense game, and that's what we prepared for. We've made a step forward, and it's important to have done so. It's only four games into the season, but we feel good, and are working every day towards this.

David Murphy, Birmingham defender
If we were a bit more clinical in front of goal and a bit better at the back, I think we would have got the right result. Obviously we knew Braga were going to be a step up compared to Nacional [Birmingham's Portuguese opponents in the play-off round] and they certainly were, though we feel on the night we could have beaten them but it just wasn't to be.

Nathan Redmond, Birmingham midfielder
I thought we did very well in the second half; in the first half we could have put them under a bit more pressure. We've got belief that we can beat anyone that comes to St Andrews, because it's a hard place to come. I thought my shot was going in, and I'd nicked a yard for the keeper not to see it. Quim's been around for a long time and it was a top-class save by him.