Champagne flowed throughout Sunday night as Birmingham's Chinese executives celebrated the end of the club's 48-year title drought, but thoughts were already turning to Premier League survival.
Birmingham's acting chairman, Peter Pannu, hopes the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final has convinced the players they are capable of hauling themselves away from the top flight's relegation zone.
The conquerers of Arsenal, which is second in the Premier League and beat Barcelona earlier this month, are only two points above the bottom three.
''This will be a step forward for the boys because the boys know they can do it,'' Pannu said in an interview with The Associated Press after the victory at Wembley Stadium. ''They have not done terribly badly this season. They know they have the ability and with all their confidence together they have beaten one of the Big Four clubs.
''They have got to utilize that self belief, which we are sure they have got after today, and retain our Premier League position, which I am confident they will do. They know they are capable.''
Especially with Alex McLeish as manager.
''Strategically Alex outwitted (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger in a sense that he knew they would be attacking, so we defended well and, when we could, took our chances,'' Pannu said. ''Alex has got that special ability in him - he understands the occasion and he rises up to it. He understands players very well and knows how to bring best out of the players and he's proven that today.''
While goalkeeper Ben Foster earned the man-of-the-match award, substitute Obafemi Martins scored the 89th-minute match-winner a month after arriving on loan from Rubin Kazan until the end of the season.
''Martins is one of the players who we knew would blossom with the other players that we already have,'' Pannu said. ''He has proven we are right and reacted very well.''
For Pannu, the victory was even sweeter because of his previous football allegiances.
''Not too long ago, I can tell you I was an Arsenal fan,'' Pannu said. ''The Arsenal attacking football is second to nobody, that's why all the more our boys deserve credit for sticking in and hanging in and capitalizing.''
The victory coincided with owner Carson Yeung's 51st birthday. As Pannu celebrated in a restaurant with Yeung and friends from Hong Kong, he stressed: ''This is a special occasion for the fans, the team and lastly the owners.''
Fans were skeptical of Yeung when his protracted pursuit of Birmingham ended in October 2009 with an 81.5 million pound (then $130 million) takeover.
But Yeung's first season ended in May with Birmingham's highest top-flight finish for more than 50 years. Now the team has won its first trophy since the 1963 League Cup, it will be in the Europa League next season.
''I am pleased for Carson,'' McLeish said. ''He must think it's easy being the owner of a football club, what with ninth position last year and winning the cup ... but we will need to strengthen (the squad).''
The victory could also have a transformational effect for the club, which is pushing for a bigger profile in Asia.
''The Europa League, that will be a new arena for us to enter,'' Pannu said. ''It will put the club forward ... we are not too worried about the money, but (the players) put in so much effort they deserve the recognition to go to Europe.''
Above all, the victory has shown that Birmingham can compete at the highest level.
''It sends out a message that if the team puts in the effort the glory is not just with the Big Four,'' Pannu said. ''Glory is there to be grabbed from the Big Four if the tactics are right and they put in the effort.''
And Birmingham can still win another trophy this season. A trip to Wembley in the FA Cup semifinals awaits if the team beats Bolton next month.
