Blues Under-18s host Bristol City Under-18s in the Professional Development League Play-Offs on Saturday lunchtime.
Martyn Olorenshaw’s side will be hoping to go one better than the class of 2020/21, who lost out to Charlton Athletic at the semi-final stage, when they welcome the Robins to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, kick-off 12pm.
Birmingham City have earned their shot at the national title thanks to a near-faultless season, winning 21 of their regular season outings as they topped the PDL North with three games to spare – and will no doubt use the Under21s semi-final win at Millwall on Friday night as inspiration.
The weekend’s visitors landed the runners-up spot in the South division, winning four of their last five matches to finish clear of Severnside rivals Cardiff City.
The opposition:
### Bristol City Aim to Overcome “Nearly Men” Tag in Academy Football
**Opposition Overview:**
Bristol City is determined to shed their “nearly men” label in academy football for the 2023/24 season, having narrowly missed out on an FA Youth Cup Final with a last-minute 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Joie Stadium. Notably, they maintained a clean sheet until the semi-finals, and no team in the Under-18s Professional Development League, North or South, has conceded fewer goals than Trevor Challis’ squad this season.
**Latest Action:**
**Blues**: Birmingham City’s Under-18s finished their away campaign unbeaten with a 2-0 victory over Coventry City at the Alan Higgs Centre. Zaid Betteka coolly converted a penalty in the 29th minute, and Mohammed Ahmed added a second with a neat finish following impressive footwork late in the match.
**Bristol City**: The Robins concluded their league season with a hard-fought 3-2 win against AFC Bournemouth. Despite playing against 10 men for over half the game, they struggled to secure the victory. Ephraim Yeboah opened the scoring, but Jonny Stuttle equalized with a penalty. Goals from Brandon Bak and Jed Meerholz put Bristol City ahead, but another Stuttle penalty made for a tense finish.
**Past Meeting:**
In April, Birmingham City’s Under-18s extended their lead at the top of the Professional Development League by 18 points with a home win over Bristol City. Ben Wodskou scored an early penalty, and O’Shea Ellis secured the win with a half-volley midway through the second half at the Knighthead Performance Centre.
**Recent Results:**
– **Professional Development League:** Blues 2-0 Bristol City, Saturday 20 April 2024
– **Professional Development League:** Bristol City 4-3 Blues, Saturday 29 April 2023
– **Professional Development League:** Blues 1-1 Bristol City, Saturday 31 October 2020
**Watch Live:**
Supporters can watch the game on BluesTV via BCFC.com or the Club’s official app.
**Match Officials:**
– **Referee:** Ashley Royston
– **Assistant Referees:** Samuel Rowley and Adam Brierley-Lewis
**Fan Guidelines:**
Fans attending the match are encouraged to enjoy the game safely and positively. The Club emphasizes its zero-tolerance policy on violence, drunkenness, and pyrotechnics. Anyone found with pyrotechnics will face arrest and possible legal action. Individuals throwing missiles will also face disciplinary actions. The Club continues to advocate for the eradication of discrimination in football.
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