VFB Stuttgart 2 Birmingham City 0: Colin Tattum's verdict
Blues, with McFadden imaginative and elusive, did a good containing job for the most part on Stuttgart which perhaps provided a pointer for certain Premier League games.
After five minutes, Blues should have taken the lead when McFadden waltzed a couple of challenges, waited for Cameron Jerome to check his run due the danger of offside and then slotted the ball through.
Jerome eagerly bore down on Jens Lehmann only for the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper to stand his ground well and keep out a shot with the heel of his boot.
It was pretty much nip-and-tuck for the rest of the first half as Blues, who trained hard on the morning of the game, searched for zip and sharpness.
The raft of alterations midway through the second period were preceded by four changes at the break.
Hart and Barry Ferguson, another debutant, were sent on, Gary McSheffrey was stationed on the left and Sebastian Larsson the right.
McSheffrey was not far off with a curler and from a Larsson free-kick both Martin Taylor and Roger Johnson went close to getting a decisive touch.
At the other end Hart got down smartly to block a fierce low drive by Elson, who served notice that he would add an edge to Stuttgart’s play following his introduction.
Fahey had to be withdrawn due to a groin and hip niggle, enabling Jordon Mutch to return to the fray for the first time after his injury nightmare last season.
McLeish continued to alter the line-up – as did Stuttgart – and switched to 4-4-2 for the final 15 minutes.
Ferguson eased his way into the fold, taking the ball deep and keeping matters simple.
Stuttgart finished the stronger and got their goals, leaving them satisfied with a decent work out, as was McLeish, despite the result.
STUTTGART: Lehmann, Trasch (Schwarz 75), Niedermeier, Delpierre, Magnin (Celozzi ht), Lanig (Khedira 63), Hitzlsperger, Gebhart, Simak (Elson ht), Cacau (Schieber 63), Marica (Basturk 75). Not used: Ulreich.
BLUES: Maik Taylor (Hart ht), Carr (Wilson 67), Parnaby (Queudrue 63), Carsley (Ferguson ht), Martin Taylor, Roger Johnson (Rowe 67), Damien Johnson (Phillips 74), Bowyer (McSheffrey ht), McFadden (Larsson ht), Fahey (Mutch 58), Jerome (O’Connor ht). Not used: Bent.
