Birmingham Metropolis got here from behind to safe a formidable 3-1 victory towards fellow League One promotion candidates Wrexham, as David Beckham, Tom Brady and Rob McElhenney watched on from the stands.
It was an intimidating environment firstly of the sport however Wrexham rapidly silenced the St Andrew’s crowd via Jack Marriott, who was saved within the aspect over Paul Mullin attributable to his goalscoring efficiency towards Shrewsbury.
The striker was first to the react within the penalty space, after Birmingham had didn’t clear their traces from a set-piece, and lashed the ball into the underside nook in simply the third minute.
Pressure was starting to develop within the stadium following the opener, however Jay Stansfield settled the nerves after pouncing on Arthur Okonkwo’s parried save to faucet dwelling the equaliser – his first aim since securing a everlasting transfer from Fulham this summer time.
It was towards the run of play however actually spurred Chris Davies’ aspect on, with Willum Willumsson threatening shortly after.
Birmingham picked up from the place they’d left off after the interval and their domination finally paid off with Stansfield grabbing his second of the night with a wise, guided header into the far nook.
Davies made two adjustments to his beginning line-up, bringing Stansfield and Tomoki Iwata in, and it was the latter who would add a 3rd simply after the hour mark with a shocking long-range effort that even Beckham himself would have been happy with.
A late pink for captain Krystian Bielik, as the sport boiled over, barely tarnished the win however that won’t distract followers from the actual fact Birmingham have catapulted themselves into the automated promotion locations with this efficiency, stage on factors with Wrexham on the summit.
Blue carpet rolled out as Hollywood arrives at St Andrew’s
The prospect of those two League One title contenders going head-to-head was so tantalising, even Hollywood couldn’t resist.
Birmingham chair Tom Wagner, minority proprietor Tom Brady and Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney all prompted a stir with their presence earlier than the sport, as they paraded spherical pitchside for any – and each – media obligation that stood earlier than them.
After ticking arguably the best American soccer participant of all time and Wrexham’s Hollywood co-owner off the listing, there was just one man followers had been determined to catch a glimpse of.
The information of Beckham’s arrival swept via the gang – in the event that they weren’t a part of the group swarming his entrance into the stadium – shortly earlier than kick-off. It’s truthful to say it solely added to the social gathering environment.
Beckham confronted Birmingham twice in his profession, together with a formidable efficiency at Previous Trafford in 2002/03, which noticed him report a aim and help throughout a 2-0 win for Manchester United.
Stansfield repaying report switch price already
Sky Sports activities’ Patrick Rowe:
“Eyebrows had been rightly raised when Birmingham splashed upwards of £15m to carry former fan favorite Jay Stansfield again to the membership, following a profitable mortgage transfer to the West Midlands final season.
“Nevertheless, along with his well-taken equaliser to fireplace his aspect again into the sport and his looping header to present them the lead, he’s already starting to indicate he was price each single penny.
“Stansfield admitted in his post-match press convention that he was relishing the stress of the worth tag, with the determine Birmingham parted methods with being “out of his arms” amid the constructive begin.
“His chairman was within the stands to look at his first two targets since parting methods with the record-breaking switch price – and he can sleep soundly realizing it’s starting to repay already after guiding them previous their promotion rivals.”
Davies: Our greatest efficiency thus far
Birmingham boss Chris Davies to Sky Sports activities:
“I feel it was our greatest efficiency. We have had patches and durations within the video games, however for an prolonged interval that was one of the best we have performed.
“It was a very troublesome begin. That is the primary aim we have conceded from a set-piece and we have been robust in that space. However within the response I did not see any change in any respect from the gamers. It was virtually as if it did not occur.
“We performed some great things and labored the ball ahead properly into good areas. And we had been making them defend. It felt like from our viewpoint it was wave after wave of assault. We then got here out rapidly within the second half and acquired that second aim. It was actually good.”
Parkinson: Errors value Wrexham
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson to Sky Sports activities:
“I assumed we had been glorious in the beginning. We acquired the aim, switched the play properly and contained them very well. With their first shot heading in the right direction they acquired a aim again.
“I simply mentioned to the lads we have not had many setbacks by way of conceding lately, and our response to it wasn’t what it wanted to be. We gave it away too cheaply and gave it again too many instances.
“Second half we had been sat a bit too deep and did not interact rapidly sufficient, and acquired undone by two moments of actual high quality.”