Rovers were aiming for sixth place in the Premier League to ensure them a place in the Intertoto Cup, but their defeat and Aston Villa's 2-2 draw at West Ham left Blackburn in seventh.

Morten Gamst Pedersen had equalised shortly after half-time for Rovers at St Andrews but two goals from Cameron Jerome and one from Fabrice Muamba handed Birmingham victory.

Hughes concedes Blues deserved to take all three points but is frustrated at their near miss of the Intertoto Cup.

"I'm desperately disappointed," said Hughes. "We're seventh in the Premier League but we're sat in the dressing room beating ourselves up.

"We'd worked exceptionally hard for that Intertoto place but we can't do anything about it now.

"We needed to win the game and needed to get all three points. We got ragged and lost focus and let Birmingham take the game."

While Hughes was disappointed with their final result of the season, he was optimistic about their overall campaign.

"It's a bit raw at the moment," he added. "I don't like getting beaten at the best of times and not under those circumstances.

"But we'll get over it in a few weeks and look forward to next season. We've been delighted with the season.

"We'll pat ourselves on the back for the season but not for today."