Halloween arrived a day early for Steve Bruce as striker Andy Johnson came back to haunt the Birmingham manager by scoring the winner on his return to St Andrew's. The Observer
Johnson strike ends Palace away drought
This was the result that Birmingham feared — beaten by a team believed to be relegation contenders and by their returning prodigal son. Andy Johnson scored his eighth Premiership goal, more than Birmingham’s total for the season, and suddenly Crystal Palace can dare to dream while the Blues are in trouble, without a League win since August and in a fight to stay in the League. The Times
Johnson deepens the gloom for Bruce
This was billed as a grudge match, but there was neither soup, nor pizza, in sight and, at the final whistle, hordes of Birmingham City's disgruntled supporters headed home as the remainder stood and booed. In their first top-flight meeting with the Blues since 1981, Iain Dowie's Palace, courtesy of a clinical 41st-minute finish from their in-form marksman and former Birmingham player Andy Johnson, deservedly secured their first away win and third victory in four Premiership outings with a classic counter-attacking performance. The Independent
Johnson returns to give Bruce the blues
A manager who with every new game can sense the pressure cranking up just a little bit more does not really need the young striker he considered disposable goods to return home and inflict another cruel cut on him and his team. The Telegraph