Match Review: Birmingham City U21s 0 Boro U21s 4

A dramatic final-day showdown saw Boro Under-21s advance to the knockout stage of the Premier League Cup thanks, in part, to a first-half blitz at Birmingham.

Goals from AJ Bridge, Ajay Matthews and Law McCabe were just rewards for a whirlwind opening 45 before Matthews rounded off the scoring with a classy finish minutes from time.

Sitting bottom of Group H prior to kick-off, lead coach Mark Tinkler knew only victory in the second city would see the young Teessiders progress with qualification also dependent on the result of Ipswich Town U21s' final group game vs Crystal Palace U21s.

In an intriguing final day decider, any of the quartet had a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout stage but Boro were without the competition’s top scorer in Calum Kavanagh, who completed a Deadline Day switch to Bradford City, and Bryant Bilongo, who left on a short-term loan to National League Ebbsfleet.

With a slight breeze in the air, the early exchanges saw a cagey encounter as neither side were fully prepared to throw caution to the wind, Boro carving out the first real opportunity through AJ Bridge, who drilled wide from 18 yards.

Birmingham were seeing plenty of the football but it was Boro who were threatening, Law McCabe stinging the palms of Tyrese Warmington midway through the first half.

The hosts had already had a warning sign from Bridge but failed to learn their lesson, the midfielder coolly slotting into the corner to round off a great team move.

Due to an inferior goal difference, the Teessiders would need a landslide victory to overthrow Crystal Palace to top spot but as long as Tinkler’s charges gained three points, they would advance in second should Ipswich fail to defeat the Group H leaders.

And two goals inside three minutes wrapped up the contest by half-time as Boro put Birmingham to the sword.

Capitalising on a defensive mix-up, Ajay Matthews made no mistake in doubling the Teessiders' advantage before Law McCabe compounded Blues’ misery by adding a third from close range.

Boro were doing their part, but knew a single goal down in Suffolk would change the entire qualification picture.

Yet that was out of their control and attention remained solely on leaving Birmingham with the points, Bridge bringing out the best in Warmington upon the restart.

Attempting to find a route back into the contest, Laiith Fairnie directed a header off target but of more concern to Boro at this stage was news of a breakthrough in Suffolk – Crystal Palace hitting the front to give Tinkler’s youngsters a two-point cushion.

Still, the young Teessiders hunted for more. Luke Woolston tried his luck with a well-blocked shot and Matthews skewed wide.

At the other end, Shea Connor pulled off a fine save to deny Junior Dixon and Birmingham twice rattled the woodwork but it was Boro who added further gloss to the scoreline as Matthews notched his second of the evening.

Yet, Boro’s progression to the knockout round would not be confirmed until the full-time whistle sounded in Suffolk - and with Ipswich failing to hit an unlikely quickfire double – Tinkler’s side sealed a spot in the last 16.