Post Stuttgart

It was relatively low key Blues opening friendly against VfB Stuttgart.

Two goals in the space of five minutes late on settled the match in the Germans favour.

Blues were steady without being spectacular and were never over-ran by Stuttgart, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season.

It got a bit disjointed in the final 15 minutes but it was a decent work out all told.

The intrigue from Zell am See was the inclusion of James McFadden wide on the right.

Alex McLeish seems to be leaning to that position for him this season rather than a striker's role.

Roger Johnson looked assured in defence and you sense Blues have made a good pick-up there.

Barry Ferguson, seen here chatting with Stuttgart coach and former Blackburn Rovers team mate Markus Babbel, is feeling his way in.

Director Michael Wiseman arrived at the game and was, as ever, the generous host.

He bought all the Blues fans watching from the main stand a drink and then acted as a taxi service when Maureen Knight - 'Blue Nose Mo' from Redditch - and Pam Williams, from Bartley Green, plus her offspring Christopher and Lindsey, thought they might be stuck in Zell am See.

They needed to get to the Blues base in Westendorf, some 75km away, where the next match is held.

Post-match, Blues players were plunged straight into ice baths on the track surround pitchside before their departure to the hotel.

And the next morning those who played the majority of the minutes were taken on a bike ride through the forest trails and up the mountains. Some 'warm down' - they were gone the best part of three hours.

So far there have been no casualties although many have to be reminded to cycle on the right hand side of the road . . .