CHRIS Hughton has refused to accept Blues are now favourites to qualify for the Europa League knockout phase.

And he cautioned his players to be prepared for a dangerous Club Brugge side in tomorrow’s big showdown at St Andrew’s.

Blues sit top of Group H with three matches left.

Their win in Belgium a fortnight ago began a calamitous four-game losing streak for Brugge, who ended up sacking coach Adrie Koster at the weekend.

But Hughton said he didn’t feel Blues had the advantage now, and that he expected Brugge to be more knowing about his team, and play for the win.

“I don’t know about an advantage because for me Brugge and Braga are still the two favourites in the group, because they’re the teams that have been there and done it and had the experience.

“The fact we’re at home changes some people’s perspectives about how the group might end up.

“But what we have to remember is that Brugge went away to Braga and got a 2-1 victory.

“It chops and changes. Some people will look at it and point out that we went to Brugge and won there, so that makes us clear favourites.

“But perhaps then it makes them that little bit more dangerous. They will know very much what we’re about.”

Blues went a goal down after just three minutes in the corresponding fixture, Joseph Akpala turning the ball in.

But after recovering and gaining a foothold, Blues went on to equalise via David Murphy and grab a sensational winner through Chris Wood in the tenth minute of stoppage time.

“Did they underestimate us? Arguably,” answered Hughton.

“Whether after getting such an early goal – and sometimes you can score too early, and take the foot off the pedal a little bit – had an influence, I don’t know.

“They probably felt they could have gone on and won the game.