Birmingham City faced League One Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, their first friendly on home turf after promotion from League One
16:59, 19 Jul 2025Updated 17:13, 19 Jul 2025
Birmingham City correspondent for the Birmingham Mail, journalist with 20 years experience, lover of most non-animal, traffic-related sports and extreme cold water
Kyogo Furuhashi in action for Birmingham City against Burton Albion. Credit: BCFC.com(Image: BCFC.com)
Birmingham City slipped to a pre-season defeat at the Pirelli Stadium as they conceded an early goal and were unable to recover against the well-organised Brewers.
The only goal of the game came in the early exchanges and while Blues enjoyed far more possession they couldn’t find a way through.
Blues dominated the first half – as you would expect them to do with a side that had all the appearance of a first team. New signings Phil Neumann, Kyogo Furuhashi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Tommy Doyle all started and had positive moments.
However, the visitors were caught out in the fifth minute when a simple pass through the middle saw Fabio Tavares escape and leave Neumann with too much ground to make-up.
The former Coventry City forward produced a clinical finish past a stranded Ryan Allsop. It was one of only two things the Blues goalkeeper was asked to do in the first half.
Instead the rest of the period was spent with Blues dominating the ball, Burton defending the box when it came in and the visitors doing all they can to work Osayi-Samuel and Keshi Anderson in down the sides.
They looked to have done that in the 11th minute when Doyle intercepted in the Burton half and sent Kyogo away with a slide-rule pass, the Japanese hit a first time shot across Jordan Amissah who managed to beat it out to the edge of the area.
Both Seung-ho Paik and Doyle saw their attempts from distance blocked by courageous defending. Doyle would have another well-struck attempt stopped from distance.
Just after the hour Blues made seven changes, with Kyogo, Neumann, Iwata, Klarer, Willumsson, Iwata and Cochrane all being replaced by youngsters.
Almost instantly Jake Beesley turned Menzi Mazwi in the box but curled his left foot shot just wide of the far post.
In response Demarai Gray, on as a half time sub, broke free and set up Ben Wodskou, who took a touch but his shot flicked off a defender and ran through to the ‘keeper.
Burton finished the stronger, somehow missing from close range after an almighty goalmouth scramble and then Jack Cooper-Love heading over from a pinpoint right wing cross.
It’s pre-season so we’ve done verdicts rather than ratings.
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Allsop
Was completely exposed and therefore blameless for the opening goal, only other intervention of the first half was to punch clear from a dangerous Burton free-kick. More pressure on his goal in the second period but he coped typically well.
Osayi-Samuel
Really sizzled at times with his pace from deep. He offered width on the right and threatened danger without finding the pass that his team-mates needed. Decent start though.
Neumann
Never looked like recovering once Tavares escaped him in the fifth minute. That was pretty much all he was asked to do in the first period, although he did take some yardage out of Tavares in the inside left channel. A mixed bag to start off his career in England.
Klarer
Strolled through the first 45. Played an hour and looked totally unruffled albeit in a game that included a couple of tangles with Jake Beesley.
Cochrane
Hit and miss, very willing to get forward but once he was there some of his delivery wasn’t too good, other times he picked some decent passes.
Doyle
Showed some lovely touches and a nice range of passing. A slide-rule pass early on gave Kyogo an opening. Also had a shot from distance which was well hit and on target before it was blocked. Subbed at half time.
Iwata
Lined up alongside Doyle and was typically neat and tidy, just missed with a lovely pass that would have put Betteka in early in the second half.
Willumsson
Some lovely pieces of skill to create space, won a header, albeit a bouncing ball in the middle of the park and put in one very inviting cross. Didn’t really imprint himself on proceedings though.
Paik Seung-ho
Freed to play further forward in the first half and found pockets of space on the left and as a No. 10. Some nice link-up play with Doyle and Anderson.
Anderson
The Blues player who probably caused most problems in the first half, got in behind his man on a couple of occasions and was a reliable outlet.
Kyogo
His movement was top notch, peeled off defenders in the channels, ran in behind and really put his foot down on the press. Had a couple of half openings, one in the first half which produced a good save and the second which was blocked as he twisted in space in the box.
Substitutions
Gray (Anderson HT): Brilliant to see him back and a real outlet on the left, he was the most likely Blues player to unlock the door in the second half.
Bateman (Osayi-Samuel HT): Slotted in at right back and worked to get forward when he could.
Betteka (Doyle HT): Looked very bright when he first came on, playing in tight spaces around the box, possibly could have got a couple of shots off quicker.
On 62 minutes: Willis, Mazwi, Boakye, Pennington, Eubank, Wodskou, Ellis.
Off 62 minutes: Kyogo, Neumann, Iwata, Klarer, Willumsson, Iwata and Cochrane
Subs not used: Mayo, Robinson
Goals
Burton: Tavares (5)
Blues:
Referee: Ollie Yates