Cork City 0 - 3 Birmingham City

A first half header from Paul Robinson and late goals from Paul Caddis and Lee Novak gave Birmingham City a comfortable 3-0 win over an experimental Cork City side at a sunny Turner’s Cross on Tuesday evening.

Robinson headed home from a corner in the ninth minute before a spectacular Caddis effort eight minutes from time sealed the win.

Novak turned home a late effort at the death in front of the travelling support of over 400 Birmingham fans to put a gloss on the scoreline of what was a typically low-key mid-season friendly.

John O’Flynn was handed a second home debut for Cork City after his return to the club last week. The striker played the second half of the scoreless draw away to Sligo on Sunday that moved City level with Dundalk at the top of the Premier Division. Gavin Kavanagh also started after his return to the club as John Caulfield made nine changes from the Dundalk game.

Birmingham manager Lee Clark named four Irish players in his squad for their first game of pre-season. Corkman Colin Doyle started in goal with Stephen Gleeson in midfield as another goalkeeper, Darren Randolph, and Gavin Gunning were named on the bench.

John Caulfield opted for a 4-4-2 formation instead of his usual 4-5-1 with Rob Lehane partnering O’Flynn up front in an experimental line-up that also included trialist Andrew Neville at left-back and Darren Murphy in the centre of defence.

Birmingham started well and lone striker Clayton Donaldson, Reece Brown and David Cotterill all tried their luck in the opening five minutes but none of the efforts troubled Kevin O’Brien in the Cork goal.

Cork were struggling to maintain possession against the five-man Birmingham midfield and it looked only a matter of time before Blues took the lead.

The only surprise when the first Birmingham goal did arrive in the 10th minute was the scorer as veteran centre-half Robinson powered a header home from six-yards after Cotterill’s corner from the right.

Darren Murphy injured his hand after falling while trying to challenge for the ball and had to be replaced by former Mervue United defender Michael McSweeney.

Cork threatened for the first time in the 13th minute when Josh O’Shea’s cross from the left appeared to be blocked by a Birmingham arm but the appeal was waved away by referee Graham Kelly.

Normal service was resumed a minute later as Donaldson was inches from connecting with Cotterill’s cross from the left before the marksman had a goal disallowed for offside after nodding the ball past O’Brien after the ball had come back off the post.

Cotterill flashed a shot just wide shortly after before another rare City attack nearly ended with a chance for O’Flynn but Morrison’s floated cross from the right was well intercepted by giant centre-half Grant Hall.

City created their first real chance in the 37th minute and it was a delightful move involving O’Flynn and Morrison before the lively Lehane played a clever pass through for Josh O’Shea on the left wing but the winger’s powerful strike was parried away by Doyle.

Birmingham changed all of their outfield players for the second half with ‘keeper Doyle the only player to maintain his place with City just making the two changes with Liam Kearney and Danny Morrissey – making a welcome return from injury – entering the fray.

The visitors upped the tempo again after the interval and struck the post early on before O’Brien was forced into two good saves from right-winger Mark Duffy.

After that initial burst, the game settled down into more of a training match with City utilising their bench.

There were little further chances of note until late on when Caddis scored a screamer on the run down the right wing that gave O’Brien no chance before Novak turned home a third at the death.

The game would have proved useful for John Caulfield as he was able to give valuable game time to his four new signings with fringe players and members of the squad returning from injury all getting a run-out.

The attention for Cork City now turns to Friday’s trip to United Park as they face Drogheda United looking for the win that could give them the outright lead in the Premier Division with Dundalk facing a very difficult trip to Tallaght to take on third-placed Shamrock Rovers.       

Cork City: Kevin O’Brien (Matt Gledhill 84); Gavin Kavanagh (Neal Horgan 59), Darren Murphy (Michael McSweeney 11) Dan Murray, Andrew Neville (Cian Coleman 68); Cillian Morrison (Jason Forde 83), Dave O’Leary (Liam Kearney h-t), John Kavanagh (Craig Donnellan 84), Josh O’Shea (Danny Morrissey h-t); John O’Flynn (Darren Murphy 59), Rob Lehane (Connor Ellis 70).

Birmingham City: Colin Doyle; Neal Ardley, Grant Hall, Paul Robinson, Jonathan Grounds; Reece Brown, Stephen Gleeson, Callum Reilly, Tom Adeyemi, David Cotterill; Clayton Donaldson.
Subs (All used at h/t):  Will Packwood, David Edgar, Gavin Gunning, Mitch Hancox, Jonathan Spector, Olly Lee, Mark Duffy, Paul Caddis, Demarai Gray, Lee Novak.

Referee: Graham Kelly

Attendance: 1,114

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David Cotterill (Birmingham City)