Cambridge United 1-2 Birmingham City: Blues rack up 111 points for season with League One victory at the Abbey Stadium

Cambridge United signed off from life in League One with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of record-breaking Birmingham City.

The two teams have experienced very different campaigns. While big-spending Birmingham will return to the Championship as champions having amassed a third tier record of 111 points, the hosting U’s will be playing League Two football next term following their recent relegation.

The visitors went ahead in the 25th minute at the Cledara Abbey Stadium when Christoph Klarer’s delivery from the right corner of the box looped beyond home goalkeeper Nathan Bishop and dropped into the far corner.

However, Cambridge were level 12 minutes later as forward Shayne Lavery got the better of Grant Hanley before firing an exceptional shot beyond Ryan Allsop.

The second half had been largely uneventful until the 68th minute when Elias Kachunga fouled Lee-Myung Jae and was sent off for a second bookable offense.

And Birmingham made the most of their numerical advantage, scoring the winner when Lukas Jutkiewicz –making his final appearance before retirement – put Kell Watts under the pressure, forcing the United defender to turn the ball into his own net.