Garry O'Connor in goal-scoring return from injury

Sep 24 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

GARRY O’Connor made a goalscoring return from injury for Blues reserves in a private friendly at Wast Hills yesterday.

O’Connor put Blues on their way to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Villa in the 23rd minute when he latched on to Quincy’s pass to the left-hand side of the penalty area and drove in.

O’Connor has not played for more than three weeks because of a groin problem.

Villa got on level terms through Zoltan Stieber’s smart back-post volley before a powerful Marcus Bent header – Nigel Quashie on the line made sure by sliding the ball in – from Quincy’s cross restored Blues’ lead in first-half stoppage-time.

Bent also smashed a fierce shot off the underside of the crossbar during the opening stages and Sam Williams headed over from six yards after Franck Queudrue cleared off the line.

Villa hit the woodwork in the 67th minute but Blues really stepped up the tempo after the break and another set-up by Quincy enabled a trialist to make it 3-1 from close range in the 81st minute.

With four minutes to go, Quincy scored a sensational individual goal. After turning a defender on the halfway line, he acclerated through, riding a crude attempt to chop him down, before finding the top corner.

Colin Doyle also returned to action after knee surgery and Mehdi Nafti got a much-needed game as he sits out competitive action due to suspension.

Quashie played alongside Nafti in central midfield and the trialist was used wide on the right.

BLUES: Doyle, Wilson, Queudrue, Rowe, Jaidi, Quashie, A Trialist, Nafti, Bent, O’Connor, Quincy.