BURNLEY reserves lost 2-0 for the second time in three days but there was more to please manager Ronnie Jepson at Birmingham City last night.

With Sunday's derby match looming large on the horizon, it was a very young side that took to the field at Solihull Borough's Damson Park.

Eight of the 14 players used were from Terry Pashley's youth squad and the youngsters will have benefited from playing alongside the experienced strike pair of Tony Ellis and Andy Payton.

In contrast the Blues had experienced players in their line-up including Graham Hyde, Jon McCarthy and Dele Adebola.

Adebola, returning from a serious knee injury, was proving a handful and in the 26th minute he beat the offside trap before placing a low shot past Cennamo for the lead.

Burnley's first real chance came in the 38th minute, when Matt O'Neill tricked and teased two Blues defenders before planting a left foot cross onto the head of Payton, whose flick header was saved well by Clint Davies.

Mark Rasmussen could have brought Burnley level just before the hour mark when he was sent clear by Payton but the chance went begging.

Soon after, it was 2-0, when Adebola's deep cross was firstly missed by Clint Fagan, landing at the feet of Tony Capaldi, who made no mistake.

Anthony Shandran, Liam Eves and Earl Davis all had chances but a first goal remained elusive.

BIRMINGHAM: Davies, Gill, Capaldi, Hyde, Hutchinson, Parker, McCarthy, Woodhouse (Gilbert, 60) Adebola (Ward, 75) Fagan, Luntala.

BURNLEY: Cennamo, Leeson, Eves, E. Davis, Williamson, Pilkington, Rasmussen, Waine (Chaplow, 24) Payton (Shandran, 63) Ellis (Hindle, 80) O'Neill.

BIRMINGHAM RES...2 BURNLEY RES...0