United’s Under-21s suffered a 3-0 defeat to Birmingham City on Tuesday afternoon at Thorp Arch.

Koby Arthur struck twice for the visitors and Liam Truslove added the third against a United team made up of a mixture of youth and experience.

Chris Dawson had the best early chance for Jason Blunt’s side after Adam Berry had carved out an opening, but goalkeeper Nick Townsend was equal to his low strike.

Alex Cairns had been called into action on a number of occasions at the opposite end, denying Mitch Hancox and Reece Brown, before Birmingham eventually broke the deadlock on 38 minutes as Arthur fired in off the post.

And within just three minutes of the two sides returning from half-time, Birmingham doubled their advantage through Arthur’s second of the afternoon as the striker weaved his way into the area and picked out the bottom corner.

Truslove then made it three on 67 minutes from inside the box, poking the ball past Cairns to all but wrap things up for the Blues.

United looked to mount a response, with substitute Kalvin Phillips, Zac Thompson and Luke Parkin all threatening, while the latter was denied a consolation goal by the linesman’s flag for offside.

Phillips had the chance to pull one back with two minutes remaining after Tyler Denton was tripped inside the area, but Townsend made a strong two-handed save to push away his penalty.

United: Cairns, Coyle, Pearce, Del Fabro, Denton, Thompson, Berry (Phillips 55), Norris, Dawson, Montenegro, Stokes (Parkin 55). Subs. Grimes, Skelton, Purver.