Tom Brady enjoyed bragging rights over Wrexham’s Hollywood owners as two goals from big-money summer signing Jay Stansfield earned Birmingham a 3-1 victory at St Andrew’s.
Joining seven-time Super Bowl champion and Blues minority owner Brady and Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney in the stands was the former England captain David Beckham and his son Romeo, who saw Jack Marriott’s early opener silence the home supporters before Stansfield fired home a rebound to level on his first league start in front of 27,980 fans.
Much was made of Stansfield’s move from Fulham for a reported £15m fee but it paid dividends when he headed Birmingham in front with a second early in the second half. Tomoki Iwata’s stunner helped seal the points before Krystian Bielik was sent off late in the piece.
Wrexham took an early lead – Tom O’Connor’s inswinging corner caused carnage under the crossbar and Bailey Peacock-Farrell punched out to Marriott who powered home. But the visitors were unable to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet as Alfie May’s initial effort stung the palms of Arthur Okonkwo and the ball fell to Stansfield who struck in the rebound.
Birmingham turned the game on its head thanks largely to a spectacular cross from Alex Cochrane which picked out the head of Stansfield and he nodded home for his second of the night. The hosts had breathing space in the 59th minute as Iwata let fly with a thunderbolt from 25 yards which flew past Okonkwo to make it 3-1.
Things started to spill over after Paul Mullin appeared to get up close and personal with Alex Cochrane’s leg – sparking a large brawl, with James McClean front and centre. The former West Brom man was immediately taken off, receiving a loud response from the Birmingham faithful.
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Birmingham were forced to play the final four minutes with a man less after Bielik was given a second yellow for a late challenge on Andy Cannon but the damage was done to end the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season. Blues are now level on 13 points with leaders Wrexham.
