Leeds Utd - 0 Birmingham - 2 Birmingham's anthem Keep Right on to the End of the Road for years rang of stoicism as if rendered by exhausted PoWs on the long march to captivity. But now the Blues are running free down the highways of the Premiership.
As the tune sounded from so many visiting fans' mobile phones on Saturday evening, it seemed they could not believe their sudden good fortune. Neither could the majority of a numbed crowd, who could not see what two officials saw. TV re-runs will not soften the Leeds mood either.
Steve Bruce's side were handed a questionable penalty, a contentious re-take and a debatable onside. Leeds argued that all three were not slices but dollops of luck.
How things turn. The penalty was awarded by Dermot Gallagher, Leeds's so-called "lucky" referee, who had officiated in 18 successive unbeaten games stretching back more than six years. But now he was overshadowed by Andy Martin, who put up his flag to signal the debate that may run all season.
Leeds's Paul Robinson was deemed to have done what Chelsea's Carlo Cudicini did on the opening Sunday - defy the pre-season crackdown on goalkeepers moving forward at penalties.
Leeds could argue there were encroachments at both kicks, Matthew Upson on the first and Stan Lazaridis on the second, which was driven to the other side of Robinson by a gleeful Robbie Savage. This, in itself, was a penalty that could have run and run.
And was it a penalty anyway? The jury was still out after several re-runs of Roque Junior's tangle with Mikael Forssell. There is no doubt the Brazilian caught the Finn with his arm - twice - but the defender appeared first to fall as he fell over the striker's trailing leg. And the initial contact was outside the area. But Gallagher pointed to the spot, showed a second yellow card and off went the Brazilian World Cup winner.
Leeds's week got even worse. Humiliated 4-0 by Leicester, they conceded their sixth goal - without reply - when Martin's flag stayed down as Forssell moved on to Dunn's pass and Gary Kelly, the Leeds captain, raised his arm immediately. A hairline decision, and if Martin erred here it was in the grey area of giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt.
