Blues signed off their pre-season campaign with a narrow defeat to Spanish side Real Mallorca at St. Andrew's this afternoon.
Emilio Nsue's second half goal for the La Liga outfit proved the different between the sides but it was harsh on the home team, who had created the better of the opportunities during a hard-fought contest.
It was a good final test for Alex McLeish's side, who had gone through pre-season unbeaten up to today, and this result will quickly be forgotten as all eyes turn to next weekend's big opening game at the Stadium of Light.
Ben Foster made his first appearance on St. Andrew's soil but fellow new boys Nikola Zigic and Enric Valles had to make do with a place on the bench as Alex McLeish opted for a front partnership of Cameron Jerome and Garry O'Connor.
The Blues boss sprung a surprise at right-back as Craig Gardner slotted into the defensive flank with both captain Stephen Carr and Stuart Parnaby sidelined through injury.
Spaniard Michel got a chance to shine against his fellow countrymen.
Blues were straight into the action as O'Connor showed good strength to win the ball and set up Jerome but his 25-yard shot was always rising high over Dudu Aouate's crossbar.
At the other end Gonzalo Castro got in behind Gardner and Sergi Enrich was first to the cross but his first-time effort bounced well wide of the target.
Castro saw plenty of the ball early on and the Uruguayan twice got in fierce shots from distance, the first saved easily by Foster and the second fizzed inches wide of the left post.
Fifteen minutes on the clock, the visiting defence was in disarray from a dangerous out-swinging Seb Larsson free-kick.
The ball reached Jerome at the far post but the striker mis-hit his shot and then, from the follow-up, O'Connor teed up Scott Dann but the centre-half couldn't keep his shot down.
Castro was involved again as his free-kick from 30 yards was turned around the post by Foster.
From the resultant corner, Enrich was left unmarked but fortunately the 20-year-old failed to get any power into his header.
The visitors had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Chris Foy after Victor Casadesus went down in the area following a challenge from Gardner.
Blues came close to opening the scoring as a 20-yard shot from Keith Fahey whistled only a yard past Aouate's left-hand post and then O'Connor fired just wide as the hosts stepped up a gear.
The woodwork saved Mallorca on 40 minutes as another excellent free-kick from Larsson was met by a glancing header from Roger Johnson but the ball crashed back off the crossbar.
Blues made three changes at the start of the half as Zigic was introduced to the action along with David Murphy and Lee Bowyer - O'Connor, Dann and Fahey making way.
Jerome produced the first notable moment of the second period as he let fly with a blistering shot from the outside right side of the penalty area that rippled the side-netting.
Michel was unfortunate to see a half volley blocked by a forest of visiting legs after the Spaniard made a perfect connection to a shot that would have severely tested Aouate.
The deadlock was broken on 63 minutes and it was the tourists that took the lead as Casadesus pulled the ball back to Nsue who side-footed coolly past Foster.
The Blues keeper came to his side's rescue soon afterwards to prevent the deficit from quickly being doubled as he stood up well with Castro bearing down on goal, getting a good enough hand on the eventual shot to send it spiralling over the bar.
McLeish made a host of changes during the middle section of the second half in an attempt to give everyone a taste of action - included amongst the introductions was Valles who looked likely during the closing stages.
Blues made determined efforts to find an equaliser as they peppered the visitors' penalty area.
Kevin Phillips beat goalkeeper Aouate to a Valles cross but the ball looped up in the air and away from danger.
Then only a last ditch clearance from Ivan Ramis denied Zigic a goal on his home debut as the Serbian looked set to tuck home the loose ball during a penalty area skirmish.
And James McFadden cracked a half volley from the edge of the area that wasn't too far off target.
But the hosts couldn't find the goal that their play had deserved and the afternoon finished on an even sourer note as Phillips pulled up with an injury and hobbled off as the action finished.
Blues: Ben Foster; Craig Gardner, Liam Ridgewell, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann (David Murphy 46); Seb Larsson (James McFadden 69), Barry Ferguson (Jordon Mutch 74), Michel (Enric Valles 68), Keith Fahey (Lee Bowyer 46); Garry O'Connor (Nikola Zigic 46), Cameron Jerome (Kevin Phillips 74)
Subs (not used): Maik Taylor.
Mallorca: Dudu Aouate, Pablo Cendros (Marti Crespi 46), Ivan Ramis, Emilio Nsue, Sergi Enrich (Pierre Webo 64), Gonzalo Castro (Tomas Pina 74), Jonathan De Guzman (Enrique Corrales 79), Jose Nunes, Ayoze Diaz, Victor Casadesus (Alhassane Keita 74), Lluis Marti.
Subs (not used): German Lux, Ruben Gonzalez.
Goal: Nsue (63)
Attendance: 10,190
