Tommy Craig commented:

Our 2005 second string campaign began with Tommy Craig's lads taking a point from their first visit to Damson Park, home of non-league Solihull Borough and on this occasion, Birmingham City reserves.

Trailing at half time to a Mathew Birley shot on 36 minutes, The Magpies hit back with eleven minutes remaining to extend their unbeaten run to three matches.

And scoring his third goal in two games was striker Guy Bates, who netted with a deft flick over the imposing frame of Nico Vaesen having coming off the bench earlier in the half to replace Lewis Guy.

A point was probably a fair return for an average United display with few chances created, despite the presence of Ambrose and Milner in the starting lineup - the latter playing as a striker.

But at least as far as the media were concerned, the story of this game centred on the non-performance of Birmingham's want-away midfielder Robbie Savage.

Banished from the first team squad and forced to train on his own, Savage's appearance for the second string put a few on the gate at Damson Park and ensured the presence of press photographers and TV cameras.

The Welsh jessie was booed by some home fans (and mischief-making unofficial website johnnies) and someone had gone to the trouble of draping a bedsheet with the words "$AV U HAVE LET US DOWN" over the hoardings behind one goal.

Savage's eventual substitution in the closing minutes of the game saw him pursued by cameras and fans alike.

However the latter were anxious for autographs and handshakes, rather than more unseemly behaviour of the type which had seen two urchins forcibly removed from the ground by stewards just after half time.