Priske's first-half strike secures narrow win
Birmingham City continued their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 victory over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday evening. The win marked Chris Davies' side's third success in four pre-season matches, though the performance was far from vintage.
August Priske proved to be the match-winner, scoring his third goal in as many pre-season games with a clinical finish in the 29th minute. The Danish striker slotted home after being played through by Carlos Vinicius, who showed great composure to thread the ball into his path.
Player ratings: Standout performers
James Beadle had little to do but impressed with his distribution, notably pinging a 60-yard pass to Scott Wright. Thompson-Jones was solid defensively, while Christoph Klarer made several important tackles.
Dael Fry appears to have settled quickly into the Blues defence, forming a promising partnership with Klarer. Alex Cochrane offered a threat going forward with dangerous crosses.
Solis shines in midfield
Jhon Solis was the heartbeat of the Birmingham midfield in the first half, with his killer pass opening up the Burton defence for Priske's goal. Menzi Mazwi complemented Solis well, winning possession back on numerous occasions and keeping the ball tidy.
Carlos Vinicius showed nice touches and provided the assist but could have been more aggressive. Kanya Fujimoto demonstrated quality with a cross-field pass but was otherwise quiet.
Second-half changes and missed chances
Davies fielded an entirely new XI for the second half, as he has done throughout pre-season. Tomoki Iwata and Patrick Roberts both missed clear-cut opportunities, with Roberts forcing a save from Corey Addai after cutting inside onto his left foot.
Demarai Gray looked sharp in the No.10 role, carrying the ball well and creating chances. Jay Stansfield, making his first pre-season appearance, ran the channels effectively and caused problems for the Burton defence.
Injury concern for Gardner-Hickman
Taylor Gardner-Hickman lasted just 11 minutes before being substituted after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury. He went down holding the back of his left leg and limped off after receiving medical attention.
Brad Mayo kept a clean sheet in the second half, dealing with everything that came his way. Lee Buchanan was reliable at left-back, while Briar Bateman and Bright Osayi-Samuel performed solidly in defence.
Defensive solidity pleases Davies
Burton offered little going forward throughout the match, and Birmingham's defence stood firm to earn a well-deserved clean sheet. The victory continues Blues' positive pre-season form as they build towards the new campaign.
