Collins' side defeated despite half-time lead

James Collins' Crewe Alexandra Under 21 side fell to a 4-3 defeat at Birmingham City despite leading 2-1 at half-time after being reduced to nine-men.

Defender Anthony Stewart put the Alex ahead early on, hooking in from a corner before the Blues equalised through Josh Dacres-Cogley.

Lauri Dalla Valle was felled just before the break, and stepped up himself to roll home the penalty for 2-1.

A nightmare second half saw Birmingham smash a quick-fire three goals through Adams, Bell's penalty, where Stewart was send off for a last man challenge, and Truslove before Callum Saunders missed a penalty to reduce the arrears.

Saunders made amends by firing across the keeper for 4-3, but the Alex couldn't force an equaliser and had Brad Inman sent off in the dying stages for a kick out at Birmingham's Charlie Cooper.

Crewe Alex U21: Ross Etheridge, James Baillie, Matthew Neal, Anthony Stewart, Perry Ng, Liam Nolan, Brad Inman, Billy Waters, Lauri Dalla Valle, Callum Saunders, George Cooper