Birmingham City sink Shrewsbury Town in pre-season clash

Gary Rowett's Birmingham City side continued their preparations for the new Championship season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at New Meadow this evening.

The Blues got off to a dream start as Wes Thomas capitalised on a weak back pass to beat Shrewsbury goalkeeper Callum Burton to the ball and finish into an empty net.

Abu Ogogo and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro then both threatened with long-range strikes for the hosts, before the visitors doubled their lead with a clinical break.

It was Jacques Maghoma who beat the the Shrews' offside trap and unselfishly squared the ball for Clayton Donaldson to fire home from close range.

There was little goalmouth action in the second half until Scott Vernon beat Tomasz Kuszczak to a Shrewsbury free kick and nodded home, only to see his effort disallowed.

David Cotterill came within inches of putting Birmingham further ahead twice in a minute late on as he first saw a 40-yard lob stopped on the line, before then lashing a right-footed volley narrowly over.

However, a second Birmingham side was held to a 2-2 draw by Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium in a concurrent pre-season encounter this evening.