No conclusions to draw

Blues open their pre-season schedule drawing 1-1 against Charlton. Andy Munro looks on.

They say that the results of pre-season friendlies are academic, but football is about confidence and in any context losing can become a habit.

In the opening friendly of the warm-up at home to Charlton, Blues fielded completely different sides either side of half-time, as is usually the case now, but completely rested the Juke and Gary Gardner, presumably because of fitness concerns rather than as a sign of tactics to come. Playing without a centre forward as a focal point never seems to work in the EFL, so I hope that this isn’t a sign of Aitor Karanka’s evolving masterplan to take the Championship by storm.

The youthful look of both Blues sides exposed our lack of strength in depth and more experienced signings are urgently required. However, it’s still good to see so many youngsters given a chance to taste football at senior level and there was even Bellingham the Younger on the bench. Although he never got on, the experience will undoubtefly be a future incentive for him.

Judging from other reports a draw seemed a fair result but next up are Leicester City, who will undoubtedly be a stiffer test.