A Jay Stansfield double and a stunning strike from debutant Tomoki Iwata sealed a dominate performance, who beat Wrexham 3-1 at home at St Andrews on Monday.Â
The result propelled Birmingham level on points with Wrexham at the top of League One, with the Hollywood-owned Welsh side having played a game more.
It wasn’t just Town with celebrity owners in attendance, however – Birmingham’s new owner, NFL legend Tom Brady, watched on from the owner’s box, and he brought some extra star dazzle by way of one David Beckham, for support.
But it was Stansfield who was Birmingham City’s superstar on the pitch, after the striker bagged a brace in a come-from-behind win that would dictate much of the tempo for the rest of this League One clash.
The division’s record signing drew the home side level on 22 minutes when he reacted quickest to turn home a loose ball in the box before his superb guided header on 52 minutes completed the turnaround.
A Jay Stansfield brace helped Birmingham City seal a dominant performance over Wrexham
David Beckham has been pictured in the stands alongside Brady at St Andrews
McElhenney’s Wrexham travel to Brady’s Birmingham in Monday’s League One actionÂ
That came after Jack Marriott put Wrexham into the lead after just three minutes with a deflected effort only for Tomoki Iwata to complete the scoring with a superb strike from 25-yards out on 59 minutes.
Birmingham captain Krystian Bielik saw red on 86 minutes after picking up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes as Blues held on to move joint top of the table.
Wrexham remain at the summit on goal difference despite slipping to their first defeat of the season while although second-placed Birmingham have a game in-hand.
The game marked the first league meeting between the two clubs in 29 years and a pre-match lights show ramped up an already electric atmosphere at St.Â
Andrew’s as the division’s two title favourites went head-to-head with stars including David Beckham, Tom Wagner and Rob McElhenney in attendance.
There was an early twist in the script as Wrexham made a dream start when Marriott’s deflected shot found the net just three minutes in after Blues failed to clear their lines at a corner.
Birmingham almost drew level from a corner of their own as Alex Cochrane played the ball into the box along the ground into the path of Alfie May who in turn found Paik Seung-ho who side-footed the ball wide from 10-yards out.
The home side equalised on 22 minutes when the division’s record signing Stansfield finished from close range on his second league debut for the club after Arthur Okonkwo could only parry May’s powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Blues came forward again soon after as Stansfield won back possession just inside the Wrexham half, the ball eventually found its way to May who saw his effort from distance comfortably held by Okonkwo.
As expected, Blues dominated possession but struggled to carve out another clear-cut chance as Wrexham sat deep and soaked up plenty of pressure with Marriott’s early goal the away side’s only shot of the first period.
However, Stansfield completed the turnaround on 52 minutes when Cochrane delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left and the striker planted a cushioned header into the bottom left corner.
Blues extended their lead in style seven minutes later as Iwata unleashed a powerful effort into the bottom right corner from 25-yards out to score his first goal for the club on his league debut from Seung-ho’s pass.
Tom Brady (right) and Rob McElhenney were (left) spotted in a deep conversation at St Mary’sÂ
Stansfield almost completed his treble soon after as Okonkwo made a crucial stop to keep his side in the contest while Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved substitute Paul Mullin’s tame effort at the other end.
Blues skipper Bielik was sent off in the closing stages for an unnecessary foul on Andy Cannon as Birmingham saw out the remaining minutes to seal a statement win against their potential promotion rivals.