Birmingham City secured a perfect pre-season double on Saturday, defeating Northampton Town and Crewe Alexandra in split-squad friendlies. Demarai Gray scored twice in a 2-0 win over Northampton, while Jay Stansfield and Briar Bateman netted in a 2-1 victory at Crewe.
What happened in the matches?
At Sixfields Stadium, Gray opened the scoring after 14 minutes with a composed finish, then doubled the lead six minutes later with a far-post volley. Birmingham’s second-half lineup featured 10 academy players, including goalkeeper Brad Mayo, who made a fine save to preserve the clean sheet.
Meanwhile, at the Mornflake Stadium, Stansfield gave the Blues an early lead before Crewe equalized through Jordan Gibson. Bateman’s close-range strike in the second half proved decisive, despite Luke Offord hitting the crossbar for the hosts.
Why it matters for Birmingham City
The wins mark a strong step forward in preparations for the Championship season, with Chris Davies’ side showing depth and potential. The inclusion of academy players like Campbell, Jawara, and Chahal highlights the club’s focus on youth development ahead of the new campaign.
What comes next?
Birmingham City’s pre-season culminates with a high-profile clash against Barcelona at St. Andrew’s on Friday, 31 July (7:45 PM kick-off). The Championship campaign begins on 15 August with a trip to Sheffield United, following a Carabao Cup opener at Swansea City on 8 August.
