Solihull Moors vs Birmingham

Briar Bateman's penalty win in the fifth minute. The early goal forced Solihull to chase the game from the outset against a side that had significantly more depth and quality across two XIs. Had the Moors weathered the opening flurry, the contest might have settled into a more even rhythm. Instead, Birmingham had a platform to control proceedings without ever needing to shift through the gears.

Demarai Gray (7.5/10) — Deployed as a central striker, Gray drifted left to find space and was Birmingham's most dangerous attacking outlet in the second half. He created Vicente's big miss, forced a smart save from Ford, and capped his display with a fine solo goal. The match's standout player.

Briar Bateman (7/10) — The 19-year-old academy product gave the most encouraging performance of his three pre-season cameos to date. Quick, direct and brave, he won the penalty with a penetrative run and later tested Ford with a stinging shot. A reminder that academy prospects are closing the gap on the first team.

Tomoki Iwata (7/10) — The Japanese midfielder anchored the first-half XI with composure, reading danger early and recycling possession efficiently alongside Gardner-Hickman. A quiet but effective performance.

Jhon Solis (7/10) — The combative Colombian brought energy and physicality to the second-half midfield, bulldozing through challenges and seeing one deflected effort spin just wide.

Carlos Vicente (7/10) — Lively throughout his 45 minutes, Vicente slalomed through the box to help create the corner for the second goal, but will be frustrated at missing a glaring chance from Gray's pass.

The 3-0 scoreline reflects a game Birmingham controlled from start to finish. The first XI's early penalty gave them a lead they never looked like relinquishing, and the second XI's greater freshness told after the break. Birmingham fielded two entirely different outfield units across the 90 minutes — a luxury of pre-season scheduling and squad depth that Solihull, with only two substitutions, could not match.

That the clean sheet survived with minimal alarms says as much about the level of opposition as it does about Birmingham's defensive organisation. Solihull, a National League side in the division below, created little of note across the evening. The most telling number may be the attendance: 1,186, a respectable turnout for a midweek pre-season friendly that served a charitable purpose beyond the result.

Birmingham City have now won all four editions of the Arthur Cup since its inception in 2023. More practically, Davies has banked a second 90-minute pre-season workout, with his squad split across two XIs and every outfield player getting at least 45 minutes. The Blues face further pre-season fixtures before the Championship campaign begins in August.

For Solihull Moors, the game was a valuable run-out against higher-level opposition and a chance to support a cause that transcends football. The National League side continue their pre-season with a trip to Keys Park to face Hednesford Town on Saturday 18 July.

A professional, untroubled performance from Birmingham City against opponents who could not match their quality across two XIs. The scoreline was fair, the clean sheet welcome, and the individual performances — particularly from Gray and Bateman — gave Davies positive selection questions to ponder. For Solihull, the score was secondary to the occasion and the cause. The Arthur Cup remains a meaningful fixture in the calendar, and the NSPCC's vital work will benefit from the funds raised.