Although I may have watched the first team before I kept track of the games I went to, the only time I can remember watching any team associated to Birmingham City is the women’s team. I’ve seen the women’s team twice. Both games have been against Sunderland and both games were at Eppleton (tonight’s venue). The most recent of those games was in November 2016. I’ve not watched Birmingham City’s men’s team, nor have I watched their under-23s. Tonight was my sixth consecutive day of being at a game. I normally do one or two midweek games, but this week I’ve done Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and that was after games on Saturday and Sunday too! I won’t be at a game tomorrow, but I will be at We Love The 90s at Leeds Arena. I’ll back back up in the North East on Saturday morning and I’ll be at Easington vs West Allotment on Saturday.
Match report:
George hat-trick helps Birmingham City beat Sunderland in Youth Cup
Adan George scored a hat-trick, including a goal after just 13 seconds, as Birmingham City claimed a 1-4 win away to Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday night.
Josh Andrews was also on the scoresheet for the Blues, while James Foster netted Sunderland’s goal.
Sunderland’s side included Bali Mumba, Cole Kiernan and Dan Neil, all of whom have under-23 experience. Birmingham’s side also continued a couple of players with experience at under-23 level.
Birmingham couldn’t have hoped for a better start as George put them ahead after just 13 seconds. An attempted Sunderland clearance was blocked, and it fell to Andrews for the Blues. His shot was saved, but George fired home the rebound.
And, still with only 90 seconds played, the visitors doubled their lead. It came through George again as he took aim from the edge of the penalty area. Jack Newman got a strong hand on it, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the ball from tickling over the line.
Having conceded two goals in just 90 seconds, Sunderland did respond with a few attacks, but they couldn’t create any chances.
With quarter of an hour played, George found himself in on goal again for Birmingham, but he was tackled. The ball fell to Kyle Hurst whose effort was crucially blocked.
George had yet another chance for the visitors, before Sunderland halved the deficit in the 32nd minute. Neil picked out Joe Hugill on the edge of the penalty area and he teed up Foster. Foster took a touch before drilling an effort into the bottom corner.
Halving halved the deficit, Sunderland then had a good spell of pressure. Ryan Wombwell and Kiernan both had efforts crucially blocked, before Foster had an effort dart wide.
After having dealt with a spell of pressure, the Blues went in search of a third. Lucas Powell curled a free-kick not too far over, before Hurst’s effort after good football clipped the post on its way wide.
Deep into injury time, Birmingham did find a third. Great work from Hurst found room for him to drill a ball across the face of goal and Andrews was there to side foot home.
Following the break, Sunderland had a few early chances. Hugill forced a good save from Joshua Bradley-Hurst in the 51st minute, before the same man volley Wombwell’s cross a matter of inches over the crossbar.
Chances were still coming for the visitors though. Josh Williams had an effort well saved, before George had an effort blocked.
Following a few further dangerous attacks from the visitors, including a Hurst shot going wide, they put the game to bed with a fourth in the 78th minute. Substitute Amari Miller played George in and he confidently slotted home.
It could have been five if not for good defending late on, but it didn’t matter as Birmingham booked their spot in round four where they’ll host Barnsley in the fourth round.
Full-time: Sunderland U18s 1-4 Birmingham City U18s
Next up for me is Easington Colliery vs West Allotment Celtic on Saturday.
Sunderland U18s: Newman, Smith (Watts, 74′), Pye (Miller, 30′), Neil, Armstrong, Ord, Wombwell, Hugill, Kiernan (c), Foster (Copper, 84′), Mumba
Unused subs: Richardson, Baggs, Jones, Taylor
Birmingham City U18s: Bradley-Hurst, Oakley, Powell, Campbell, Gordon, Browne, Walker (Chang, 68′), Williams, George (Zohore, 81′), Andrews (Miller, 78′), Hurst
Unused subs: Rouse, Dugmore, Nguepissi, Finnegan
Admission: £3 adults, £1 concessions
Programme: No
Attendance: About 150
Teamsheet: No
Referee: David Pill
Connor's Football Travels 