Birmingham claim first league victory of new season but Wrexham still without a win
Phil Neumann headed visitors in front from a corner but Jay Stansfield missed open goal as Birmingham dominated early on
Callum Doyle equalised after break from sublime Lewis O'Brien cross
But Neumann swiftly put Blues back in front with second header
Blues boss Chris Davies made six changes from heavy EFL Cup defeat against Brentford in midweek
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Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse Ground
After a pretty poor opening 15 minutes, Wrexham have started to come to life.
They sorely need to get the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Ollie Rathbone into the game as much as possible to help Kieffer Moore.
Some encouragement from the home supporters now at least after that early setback.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Half a chance for Wrexham as Callum Doyle drives the ball into the area.
Ollie Rathbone connects sweetly with the cross but his effort is blocked.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Even at such an early point in the season this result could be pivotal for Birmingham and it's staff.
Paul B, Birmingham
Tonight’s result has become a bigger deal for Chris Davies than it would ordinarily be.
Philip, Malton
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
The hosts have a first sight of goal. Again it's a set-piece, with Kieffer Moore flicking a header goalwards - but it's a comfortable save for James Beadle.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Well this is all going very nicely for Birmingham so far.
They have been the better side and have the lead.
Now it's up to Wrexham to conjure a response, just as they did against Watford last weekend.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM
Fantastic goal and very well deserved.
We were talking about can Blues get a response? Yes they can, they've just got to keep it going.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Waynne Phillips
Former Wrexham midfielder on BBC Radio Wales
Wrexham didn't learn from the first corner and you knew exactly where that was going to go.
Phil Neumann rose higher than any other defender and it ended up being an easy goal for him.
This has been a very disappointing start for Wrexham.
Wrexham 0-1 Birmingham
Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse Ground
It's absolute bedlam in the away end.
There are a few groans among the home fans around us in the press box.
They get the sense that the visitors are worthy of that goal.
A strong start is rewarded for the Blues.
Phil Neumann
Image source, Rex FeaturesBirmingham have the lead!
They wasted one set-piece opportunity, but there is no mistake with a second.
Again it's an Alex Cochrane corner, and this time Phil Neumann uses his strength to head home at the far post.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Birmingham threaten again as Demarai Gray carries the ball up the pitch, then cuts inside and unleashes a 20-yard shot which deflects over.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Waynne Phillips
Former Wrexham midfielder on BBC Radio Wales
Birmingham have had the better of the opening 10 minutes, they look like the home team.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Wrexham come forward with purpose for the first time as Danny Imray whips a lovely ball into the box, but nobody in red is in the right place to get a decisive touch.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse Ground
That's a massive block from Rathbone to deny Priske.
It had been a very tame opening to this one, but the game has just come to life after those flashpoints.
Huge ironic cheers from the home faithful as Cochrane is booked for diving.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Waynne Phillips
Former Wrexham midfielder on BBC Radio Wales
That was a quality corner, and I'm not too sure Ollie Rathbone knew much about it.
It looked a good shout for a penalty for me, but there wasn't too many shouts from the Birmingham players.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
What a chance that was for August Priske - and what a let-off for Wrexham.
The header was from point-blank range. He has to score.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM
It's been a solid start for Blues.
We're certainly looking like we've got a bit of fire in our bellies.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
The set-piece very nearly brings the opening goal of the night.
Alex Coachrane's delivery is headed back across the face of goal and August Priske has the goal at his mercy, but his header hits Ollie Rathbone on the line.
Cochrane follows up and goes down looking for a penalty, but the left-back is booked for diving.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Now Birmingham get the ball forward quickly and this time they do get a corner.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
Wrexham try to get the ball down as Zak Vyner looks for Ollie Rathbone, but the flag goes up for offside.
The early scrap continues.
Wrexham 0-0 Birmingham
We are just watching a spot of head tennis.
It is all a bit of a scrap in the very early stages.
Wrexham and Birmingham City both gained automatic promotion from League One in 2024-25
Phil Neumann struck twice as Birmingham City beat Wrexham to earn their first Championship win of the season.
Both sides had drawn their opening two league games and it was the Blues who controlled the opening half in north Wales.
They were denied an early goal as Ollie Rathbone produced a vital block to thwart August Priske.
But their strong start was rewarded when Neumann headed Alex Cochrane's corner beyond Anthony Patterson.
Jay Stansfield then blazed over with the goal at his mercy as Wrexham were again carved wide open.
Having been below par in the opening 45, the hosts improved in the second half and equalised through Callum Doyle who coolly steered Lewis O'Brien's cross into the net.
Although moments after Kieffer Moore and Stansfield had chances to score, Birmingham regained the lead as Priske's volleyed cross found Neumann whose glancing header beat Patterson.
Birmingham remain unbeaten having collected five points from their three league matches.
Defeat leaves the winless Red Dragons with just two points from a possible nine following a disappointing start to the season.
The mood was far from rosy at Birmingham going into this match, particularly on the back of Tuesday night's emphatic 6-1 EFL Cup loss to Premier League Brentford.
But the Blues were dominant in the opening half and twice took advantage of the home side's defensive sloppiness to ease the pressure on boss Chris Davies.
Neumann will rightly take plenty of plaudits, but the vigour and desire in Birmingham's display will be immensely pleasing for all connected to the St Andrews club.
As for Wrexham, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their opening four matches across all competitions so far this season.
They were incredibly fortunate not to be more than 1-0 behind at half-time, and sadly for the Red Dragons, it is not a new concern.
Only five sides conceded more than the 65 goals the Welsh side shipped in the league in 2025-26.
It is a problem Phil Parkinson needs to resolve if his side are to be serious play-off contenders again this term.
Do Wrexham have a defensive problem?
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:
"The game is won or lost at both ends of the pitch.
"I'm not bothered about possession - sometimes you have more, sometimes you have less.
"Some of our approach play was good, but in the first half we didn't play with enough conviction or belief in the final third."
Birmingham City boss Chris Davies:
"It was a big win for us and I thought we fully deserved it.
"This is a tough place to come, we know that, Wrexham are a really good side, especially at home, but we looked like a proper team.
"We looked like a team that was together, and a good team with the way we were playing. We created three good chances in the first half and could have been further ahead.
"We showed the character you need to win games of football. The message before the game to the players was that you can't do it on your own, you have to be a team and you need each other."
Parkinson: 'Two of the softest goals we've conceded in all my time' at Wrexham
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
| |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
|
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Chris Davies
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Chris Davies
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Championship
All competitions
All competitions
Wrexham are winless in all four of their meetings with Birmingham City since their most recent promotion to the Football League (D2 L2), despite going 1-0 ahead in three of those games.
Birmingham City are unbeaten in each of their last seven league games against Wrexham (W4 D3), since losing their first ever Football League match vs the Dragons in October 1979 (0-1 away).
Wrexham are unbeaten across their last six home league games played on a Friday since their return to the Football League in 2023-24 (W4 D2), though did draw 1-1 with Birmingham during that run in October last year.
Birmingham are unbeaten across their last seven Championship matches (W3 D4), drawing their last three in succession - not since February 2020 have the Blues drawn four matches in a row.
Jay Stansfield has recorded three goal contributions across four league games against Wrexham whilst playing for Birmingham (two goals, one assist) – his joint-most against any side for the Blues.
