Burton Albion surprised Championship Birmingham City yesterday by handing them a 2-0 defeat during their pre-season schedule. Despite having the majority of the ball, the Blues couldn’t find a way through and gave away poor goals to lose this tie.
Birmingham retained the ball in the opening stages, but their lack of urgency confined the game to very few chances. Gray’s good work down the left hand-side eventually lead to an opening for Lee Novak who fired over.
Burton finished the stronger. Mark Duffy forced a save from Kuszczak from close range before Khayati missed a chance to open the scoring before the break.
It was from a corner that John Mousinho scored a header from 6 yards out. A well worked move resulting in a corner that was not well defended at all by Birmingham.
Phil Edwards then doubled the hosts lead after Birmingham failed to clear their lines. A loose ball fell to Edwards who lifted it over Kuszczak before passing it coolly into the back of the net.
The game finished 2-0 to Burton in what was a performance to forget for Birmingham City. In what was a game where Blues manager, Rowett, was putting up a potential Championship opening day first XI, the players failed to respond and I would presume many of their places are still up for grabs.
Blues play Benfica U21s in a closed door friendly this coming week. The players who were not involved yesterday will have their chance to make a stake for a first team start come August 8.
Blues: Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Spector, Grounds; Davis (Brown ’68), Gleeson; Gray (Arthur ’77), Novak, Maghoma (Cotterill ’68); Donaldson (Thomas ’81).
Unused subs: Legzdins, Eardley, Hancox, Robinson, Edgar.
Vital Birmingham credit the author and owner of this work as Birmingham City Football Club
