Only a Steve Cook goal could separate League One mainstays Burton Albion and newly-promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest during their most recent pre-season friendly, so it came as no surprise to see Hasselbaink upbeat following the final whistle.
The 50-year-old insisted that there was much to like about his side’s performance on the day, which came after Burton Albion had suffered a 4-2 loss to Hibernian in their opening pre-season friendly before claiming a 2-1 success over Stratford Town.
A Burton Albion XI will face Mickleover the day before the visit of Birmingham, but one can assume that Hasselbaink will deploy his strongest troops for the Bass Charity Vase game on Saturday, and the friendlies are coming thick and fast for the Brewers.
Brackley Town, Sheffield United and Belper Town will all do battle with Hasselbaink’s outfit before they commence their League One season against Wycombe Wanderers on July 30, and Birmingham will certainly provide stern opposition this weekend.
An early trip to Portugal would be an ideal way to start a new job in any sector, and newly-appointed Birmingham City manager John Eustace oversaw a week-long training camp in the sunshine before a good workout against Portimonense on Tuesday.
One week after scoring the winner in a behind-closed-doors fixture with Walsall, Scott Hogan found the back of the net again for Birmingham in the 33rd minute of the contest at the Estadio da Nora, which came after Ewerton had put the home side ahead.
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The Blues will now seek to extend their unbeaten pre-season run to three matches amid continued off-field uncertainty surrounding Laurence
Bassini’s proposed takeover, with Lee Bowyer being relieved of his duties earlier this month as part of the major St Andrew’s shake-up.
Cheltenham Town and Rayo Vallecano will also lock horns with Birmingham as part of their pre-season preparations, and the Blues’ most recent clash with Burton Albion in the 2017-18 Championship season ended with the spoils shared at 1-1.
