"Wasn't as strong" - Exclusive: Ex-Aston Villa ace reacts to Birmingham City promotion | OneFootball

Blues have swept aside effectively all in League One this season

Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has praised Birmingham City for the manner of their promotion-winning campaign, although he wasn't surprised to see the club return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Chris Davies' side achieved the feat with a 2-1 victory over Peterborough United, with all three goals coming in the first period as Alfie May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman struck either side of Kwame Poku's equaliser, with Blues now 17 points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers who have just 15 points to play for.

Plenty of attention has been cast on developments at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park this season as the side from the Second City embarked on their solitary campaign of League One football in 30 years, which was kickstarted by Davies' appointment in June and a recruitment drive of 17 players amid major investment from Knighthead Capital Management.

The achievement, which was celebrated at the Weston Homes Stadium by nigh on 4,000 Bluenoses, is the first of many major objectives the club look to tick off, with the aim of eventually returning to the Premier League well and truly at the forefront of a high-profile rebuilding job.

Lee Hendrie praises Birmingham City for immediate Championship return

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie, who featured 307 times across the city, praised Birmingham for the way they have achieved a first-time promotion amid huge pressure and scrutiny for situations such as the transfer fee to prize Jay Stansfield away from Fulham on a seven-year contract.

When asked if he was surprised at how comfortable Blues' return to the second tier has been in terms of a points gap at the top of the division, the Sky Sports pundit said; "I suppose I am and I'm not, really."

"I do feel that this season, in particular, it (League One) wasn't as strong as what it had been previously," he added.

"But, listen, credit where credit's due, you've still got to pick teams, you've still got to recruit well and you've still got to get the right person that's going to drive the team forward, which they have done this season.

"They've really gone about their business quite superbly and in amazing fashion, really," Hendrie stated. "They've dictated and dominated the league from day dot, to be quite honest.

"Lots of credit where credit's due. I do feel it is a tough league.

"Yes, they have spent money, but spending money doesn't always give you the answers or get you results," the former Villa man continued.

"But, as I said, I think they looked deep into it and recruited really well, and that's why they've had success this season.

"I'm not surprised (they've been promoted). But, it's one of them where you invest and get the right people in, and you get the rewards," he concluded.

Birmingham City can continue to make history this season

Despite it being the third tier, Davies' men have written themselves into the history books at St Andrew's on an abundance of occasions thus far, and they can continue to do so in the remaining eight matches of a continuously congested season.

Blues have already set a club-record amount of wins in a season and club-high points haul this term, and can complete a double-winning season with a second victory over Posh in the space of five days at Wembley on Sunday, emulating the achievements of 1994/95 under Barry Fry.

The runaway leaders need just 18 goals to break that side's goal-haul across all competitions, and having netted 100 all season, it remains a distinct possibility.

If Birmingham can also maintain an average of 2.4 points-per-game, they will also smash a League One and subsequently EFL-high record points total, with the former being 103 - set by Wolves 11 years ago - as well as Reading's total of 106, which was achieved as the Royals won the Championship in barnstorming fashion in 2006.

Blues can also knock off a record set by Hendrie's former club and their bitter rivals which has stood since 1972, as the Villans recorded a third-tier high of 32 victories from 46 games, which would be achieved by the B9 outfit if they emerged victorious in three of their remaining six league games.