Birmingham City were forced to settle for a point at Portsmouth in their final match of the 2025/26 season. August Priske's first goal for Blues cancelled out Adrian Segecic's opener to give Chris Davies' team 64 points and the boast of their best Championship finish since 2011/12.
First Half Action
Blues' press has been noticeably more effective in recent weeks and the game's first chance arrived as a result of Jhon Solis winning the ball in Portsmouth's defensive third. Jay Stansfield pounced on the loose ball after Solis dispossessed John Swift to feed Carlos Vicente down the right. Vicente had options in the middle but flashed a ball across the face of the goal that amounted to nothing.
When Pompey right-back Jordan Williams found himself in a similar position in the eighth minute he showed far more conviction. Williams picked out Segecic who gave James Beadle the eyes to fire home at the near post.
Stansfield swiftly had a gilt-edged chance to draw Blues level. A wicked inswinging corner from Kai Wagner found Stansfield at the far post but he got the header all wrong. That would be Stansfield's last involvement due to a knock sustained in the build-up to Vicente's early cross-cum-shot and Paik Seung-ho was selected ahead of Marvin Ducksch to replace him.
A similar chance arrived for Priske in the 19th minute and the big Dane made no mistake. Priske towered over everyone inside Portsmouth's penalty area to find the top corner with a bullet header from Wagner's delivery. The 22-year-old's first goal in England arrived on the ground where his dad, Brian Priske, briefly played.
Ibrahim Osman, who was back in the XI after concussion, showed Williams a clean pair of heels to create another opportunity for Priske. Osman's cut-back was just behind Priske and the striker couldn't get enough power on his finish to trouble Pompey goalkeeper Ben Killip. Osman would soon skip by Williams again and force a good stop from Killip at the near post after ignoring those in the middle.
The final chance of the half fell to Vicente. Paik slipped Vicente in but his left-footed shot was beaten away by Killip as the goalkeeper won the one-v-one battle.
Second Half Action
Blues had the first meaningful chance of the second half when Bright Osayi-Samuel skipped down the right and found Osman at the far post. The Ghanaian set himself but couldn't find the target from close range. Portsmouth went straight up the other end to work Beadle. Conor Chaplin's header was well saved by Beadle before Jacob Brown blazed over the bar on the follow up.
Osman had another great chance to score when Paik robbed Luke Le Roux and played him in on goal. Killip did well to block Osman's shot and the ball skimmed off the crossbar before going behind for a corner.
Both teams pushed for a winner late on and tensions boiled over when Segecic tried to score with what Blues felt should have been a pass-back to their goalkeeper after Christoph Klarer had been down for treatment. Substitute Tommy Doyle went close for Blues with a long range strike that whistled over the crossbar on what will be his final appearance for the club.
Blues' draw at Fratton Park means they finish their first season back in the Championship in 10th position.
Player Ratings
Starting XI
James Beadle 6.5: The on-loan stopper produced a good stop from Chaplin on his last Blues appearance. Beadle didn't stand much chance with a Segecic strike that travelled through bodies before nestling into the back of his net.
Bright Osayi-Samuel 6.5: Osayi-Samuel showed his searing speed when he let Alli through one-v-one early in the second half only to turn around and catch him. The right-back isn't always the tidiest in possession but his recovery speed is excellent.
Phil Neumann 7: Neumann is beginning to look at home in the Championship. He doesn't mind the physical battles and he no longer takes chances in possession. Blues' simplified game is suiting him.
Christoph Klarer 7: Klarer will likely be crowned Blues' Player of the Year at tomorrow's awards dinner and the Austrian deserves it. You know what you get from Klarer and while some of the club's recruitment in the last four windows has been questionable, the acquisition of Klarer has been a masterstroke.
Kai Wagner 7: The German's deliveries from corners were outstanding. If Blues are to improve sufficiently at set pieces next season then Wagner will be an important tool. Blues have a useful supply line on the left now and Wagner has contributed three league assists.
Tomoki Iwata 6: Iwata has become an important player for Blues in midfield when they play away due to his combative qualities. He needs to improve in possession to play the position more consistently next season.
Jhon Solis 7: The Colombian was effective in the press again and much tidier in possession than he was against Bristol City last weekend. It was a shame he couldn't complete what could be his final Blues game. Everyone is hoping it isn't.
Carlos Vicente 7: Vicente is effective in a slightly different way to Osman. He got into some great positions and probably should have scored at the end of the first half. The bar has been set by Vicente in the last month.
Jay Stansfield 6: Stansfield couldn't recover from the knock he took in creating a chance for Vicente in the opening minutes. He should have scored a header but the injury might have played a part in his finish.
Ibrahim Osman 7.5: Osman produced the finished article against Preston last week, whereas this was a game in which we saw his rawness. He worked his way into numerous goalscoring positions and Williams had no idea how to contain him. Osman is a force of nature and Blues should sign him.
August Priske 7: Priske has made an enormous difference to the way Blues have played in recent weeks because of his aerial prowess, so it was fitting that he scored his first goal for the club with his head. It's a weight lifted off Priske going into the summer and sets him up nicely for next season.
Substitutes
Paik Seung-ho (for Stansfield, 18) 6.5: Paik needed the first half to work his way into the game. He had some influential involvements in the second half, not least the press and pass that handed Osman a great chance.
Tommy Doyle (for Solis, 53) 6: Came off second best in a couple of challenges but he did almost score a beauty late on. The loan hasn't gone how he hoped it would.
Not used: Allsop, Laird, Panzo, Cochrane, Gray, Roberts, Ducksch
