Blues secured their first win of the 2009/10 pre-season campaign with a 1-0 victory against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Marcus Bent's 77th minute strike ensured a deserved result for Alex McLeish's side on a damp Wednesday evening in East London.

It was a good work out for Blues and a performance that will please McLeish and his coaching staff ahead of the new Premier League season.

McLeish opted for a strong starting XI to face the League Two outfit.

Maik Taylor, sporting the newly revealed goalkeeper kit, started in goal shielded by a back four of Stuart Parnaby, Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.

Barry Ferguson and Keith Fahey operated in the centre of the park with Gary McSheffrey and Sebastian Larsson on the flanks. Up front was the pairing of Cameron Jerome and James McFadden.

Blues began proceedings in a lively fashion in the opening exchanges at the Barking & Dagenham Stadium with McLeish's side conjuring up some neat football.

But somewhat against the run of play the Daggers fashioned the first chance of the evening on ten minutes. From a throw-in, Graeme Montgomery struck a strong shot from 20-yards but Taylor was alert to the danger and saved comfortably.

Thereafter Blues pressed forward and forced their first corner of the match on 16. Larsson's in-swinging corner found the head of Dann, but the defender could only guide the ball high over the crossbar.

Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Blues did not create any clear-cut chances until Parnaby went inches wide of the post with a low grass cutting shot shortly before the half hour mark.

Johnson gave the travelling Bluenoses a glimpse of his aerial prowess from a McFadden corner. The centre-half rose high above his marker to connect with the ball yet it frustratingly sailed inches to the side of the bar.

Taylor showed no pre-season rustiness to thwart Montgomery with a certain goal on 37 minutes. At point blank range the Northern Ireland international reacted superbly to push the fierce shot to safety following Benson's long punt forward.

With half-time approaching Blues almost got that long awaited pre-season goal. Following a goalmouth scramble Jerome seemed to miskick the ball from close range and the ball was steered to safety.

After the interval, Lee Bowyer entered the fray for McSheffery, while Martin Taylor came on for Dann. Again Johnson showed his goal bound instincts with a powerful header that unfortunately was blocked by Wil Antwi's body from Larsson's corner early in the second period.

On 56, young left-back Jared Wilson replaced Parnaby but it was Fahey who began to show his undoubted skill after the hour mark.

The Irishman linked up well with Wilson and McFadden, with some delightful one touch football,only to drive the ball straight at Tony Roberts in the Daggers goal.

Bent was given another pre-season work out to try and stir things up in front of goal but it was Danny Green for Dagenham who almost broke the deadlock with a curling effort.

The substitution paid dividends on 77 minutes when Bent fired Blues into the lead. The striker finished with aplomb after reacting well to McFadden's lay off.

Josh Scott should have equalised for the Daggers late on but the substitute aimed his header completely off target.

Full time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Blues 1

Blues: Taylor; Carr (c ); Dann (Taylor, 46); Johnson; Parnaby (Wilson, 56); Ferguson; Fahey; Larsson; McSheffrey (Bowyer, 46); McFadden; Jerome (Bent, 67)
Subs not used: Doyle

Dagenham: Roberts; Doe; Griffiths; Arber (c ); Antwi; Thurgood; Green; Taiwo (Nurse, 72); Benson; Gain; Montgomery (Scott, 54)
Subs not used: Ogogo; Poole; Bingham; Tejan-Sie; Charge; Bentley; Dean

Attendance: 1,022