WANDERERS finally had lift-off in the Championship at the 11th attempt.

The club’s worst start for 111 years finally came to an end at St Andrew’s, even though the nails were bitten to the quick by the end of 90 minutes.

The signs had been good in midweek as new loan trio Neil Danns, Liam Feeney and Kevin McNaughton added some steel in an encouraging 0-0 draw at Blackpool.

That continued in the midlands as Jermaine Beckford pounced on an error by Dan Burn to give the Whites a 12th-minute lead.

Beckford headed against the bar before half time but when Danns doubled the lead with a goal against his former club, the points appeared to be in the bag.

Then up stepped giant striker Nikola Zigic from the bench, halving the deficit with virtually his first touch, a looping header from Chris Burke’s free-kick.

Wanderers survived a big penalty appeal at the end as Callum Reilly’s shot was charged down by Feeney – appearing to hit the winger’s hands – but home appeals were waved away by ref David Coote.

Dougie Freedman, who had faced calls for his own job during the dreadful start, felt his patience had been rewarded. “I’ve tried to stay calm,” he said. “I’ve had good support from the chairman in a difficult moment, but we’ve certainly not been far away having registered five draws.

“You have to go through some bad moments to get your reward and that’s what we’ve done.”