Port Vale fall to a 2-0 defeat to Championship side, Birmingham City, at Vale Park in a closely contested pre-season friendly.
The game’s first goal came twenty-five minutes in after Keshi Anderson latched onto a mistake from the Vale and finished calmly from close range. Birmingham added to their advantage ten minutes from time, this time through Willumsson.
The Gaffer included three summer signings in his starting eleven for the friendly against Birmingham City at Vale Park. Marko Marosi started the game in goal, whilst Cameron Humphreys slotted in at centre back and Ben Waine joined the forward line.
The Vale got the game underway, but it was the visitors who had the first attempt of the game. Tommy Doyle received the ball just outside the penalty area and got his shot away, but his attempt trickled wide of the post.
Vale’s first big chance of the game came fifteen minutes in when Headley’s in swinging corner was met by Byers. However, his headed effort went just wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
Despite an even start to the game, it was Birmingham who took the lead with twenty-five minutes on the clock. A loose pass was capitalised on by Keshi Anderson, who fired home from close range.
The Valiants almost levelled things up seven minutes later. A Vale corner was cleared and met by Ojo on the edge of the box, who let strike on the volley, but his spectacular attempt went just over the crossbar.
HALF TIME: Port Vale 0-1 Birmingham City
A first appearance at Vale Park for the new rule which sees goalkeepers punished if they keep hold of the ball for longer than eight seconds. Ryan Allsop the culprit, but the resulting corner came to nothing.
Moments later, The Blues almost doubled their lead when Demarai Gray beat his man and fired an effort inches wide of Marosi’s left post.
Birmingham did get their second goal of the game, ten minutes from time. A ball into the Vale box was first headed by Dykes and then Hansson, before the ball fell to Willumsson eight yards out. Willumsson’s shot bounced onto the post and into the back of the net.
FULL TIME: Port Vale 0-2 Birmingham City
Port Vale starting XI: Marosi, Clark, Humphreys, Hall, Byers ©, Waine (Richards 74’), Ojo, Paton (Stockley 74’), Tolaj, Debrah, Headley (Gordon 78’)
Substitutes: Trialist, Heneghan, Croasdale, Shipley, Plant, Shorrock, Lomax, Walters
Birmingham City XI: Allsop, Osayi-Samuel, Klarer, Cahsin, Cochrane, Leonard, Tomoki, Anderson, Doyle, Gray, Kyogo
Substitutes: Mayo, Laird, Sampsted, Fogarty, Bielik, Chang, Gardner-Hickman, Hall, Willumsson, Hansson, Dykes
