What a difference a GRAY makes to the Blues attack!

BLUES' largely meaningless 1-0 defeat at Burton won't live long in the memory probably except for one man.

- By BRIAN DICK

The visitors dominated their second preseason game of the summer, played some nice football at times, but couldn’t find a response to a self-inflicted Fabio Tavares winner, which came in just the fifth minute.

There were times when Blues goalkeeper Ryan Allsop could have wandered off and no-one would have noticed.

For Chris Davies, the result mattered much less than stepping up his players’ fitness regimens, giving half of his team their first full hour since returning and others 45 valuable minutes. That those players came through unscathed will be of utmost importance to the manager.

There were some interesting takeaways, intriguing cameos and, for Demarai Gray, a poignant first day back in the Royal Blue. Here are the main talking points from the Pirelli Stadium...

Gray's day

Where else to start but to acknowledge the fact he is back where he belongs.

There will be bigger receptions to come, like at home to Ipswich on August 8, but before the match when the winger’s name was read out among the substitutes it was greeted with a loud cheer and a generous clap of recognition from the man himself.

The 29-year-old is back at the club that made him; 3,491 days since he last wore the Ball and Globe, he did so once again.