Birmingham brushed past Conference team Forest Green with a 1-0 win thanks to Clayton Donaldson`s strike on 18 minutes.
Manager Lee Clark was pleased with the workout but accepted there were some issues still outstanding. Blues tempo was slow at times and Clark put that down to the double fitness sessions the players have been doing this past week.
Plenty of young players were on show in blue as Blues registered their second pre-season win. Young Reece Brown, Demarai Gray, Charlee Adams and Koby Arthur all put a claim in for a spot in the squad.
Forest Green put up a firm test for Birmingham after pushing them all the way with a 1-0 score line. The Gloucestershire team had seven new signings on show and will be very happy with the performance they put on show. Particularly keeper Sam Russell who pulled out plenty of saves.
Reece Brown kicked things off 9 minutes in with a curling shot that was tipped wide of the post. Forest Green then whipped a free-kick over the bar from 30 yards 11 minutes in.
David Edgar then tempted the score line with a header past the far post from a David Cotterill corner. Reece Brown back among the action with a nicely weighted through ball to Donaldson who got in behind to round keeper Sam Russell with 18 minutes gone.
Koby Arthur then announced himself on the game with a shot that Russell gathered. Shortly after, Arthur teed up Reece Brown for the youngster to drag his effort wide.
Luke Rodgers worried Blues right before the break with a shot that rattled the right hand post, Lee Hughes arrived to slide home the rebound but Edgar had other ideas with a terrific goal line clearance.
Blues then swapped the teams, and the second half began. Forest Green had a chance on 50 minutes; Kurtis Guthrie got in down the right but fluffed his shot over.
Arthur then had an opportunity to double the lead to be denied by Russell with a quick block from the keeper. Duffy then peppered the opposition goal with a shot saved by sub-keeper Paul White. Shinnies` attempt to get to the rebound was also in vein.
Shinnie wasn`t finished though; a powerful shot had to beaten away by White to keep the score line 1-0 to Blues just minutes before the game ended.
Blues relatively untested in terms of the result but were certainly run all the way in terms of fitness. Slow at times and unable to extend the break through, the Blues will still be pleased to pick up the win and have another run out with no injuries.
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