The Albany Gazette - Birmingham City Seek First Championship Win Against Wrexham

Birmingham City return to Championship action tonight, traveling to the Racecourse Ground to face Wrexham in a pivotal match for manager Chris Davies. The Blues aim to break their winless start with a victory against a rival side that has also drawn its opening two fixtures.

The result of this evening’s contest could prove significant for Davies’ tenure, as Birmingham faces a demanding schedule ahead. Following the Wrexham clash, Southampton are scheduled to visit St Andrew’s on Tuesday, while the club remains focused on strengthening its squad before the transfer window closes.

Davies has publicly emphasized the urgency of securing at least two new players before the deadline, stating during a press conference on Thursday that the team needs to move quickly. The pressure to perform is heightened by Birmingham’s recent exit from the Carabao Cup, where they suffered a 6-1 defeat to Premier League side Brentford earlier in the week.

Birmingham opened their league campaign with back-to-back draws. They began with a goalless stalemate at Sheffield United before securing a 2-2 draw against Bristol City, a result sealed by Demarai Gray’s stoppage-time penalty.

Wrexham, managed by Phil Parkinson, enter the match on a similar note, having also recorded successive draws in their Championship opener. The Welsh club enjoyed a free week after exiting the cup competition to Middlesbrough in early August.

Historical context adds weight to the fixture. The last two meetings between these sides at the Racecourse Ground ended in 1-1 draws. However, Birmingham has been dominant at home against Wrexham, winning both previous encounters at St Andrew’s, including a 2-0 victory in April secured by goals from Carlos Vicente and Christoph Klarer.

For tonight’s lineup, Demarai Gray makes his first league start of the season, operating alongside Jay Stansfield in the No.10 role. The only change from the squad that faced Bristol City sees Paik Seung-ho drop to the bench.

Birmingham are set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Beadle in goal; Osayi-Samuel, Neumann, Klarer, and Cochrane in defense; Solis and Iwata in midfield; and Vicente, Stansfield, and Gray supporting striker Priske.

The substitutes available include Allsop, Fry, Laird, Lund, Paik, Roberts, Wright, Ducksch, and Vazquez. Both teams are eager to secure their first league victory of the season, with Birmingham particularly motivated to improve the mood following the heavy cup defeat.

(B.Smith--TAG)