Wrexham 1-1 Birmingham (Jan 23, 2025) Game Analysis
Wrexham were forced to settle for a point from their clash with League One leaders Birmingham City on Thursday in a fixture dubbed the “Hollywood derby” due to the influence of Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady over the respective teams.
The result leaves Birmingham three points clear of Wycombe Wanderers at the top of the League One table, while Wrexham remain third, five points behind Brady’s side.
Despite the absence of their famous owners in the stands, Wrexham got their noses in front through a pinpoint strike from midfielder Oliver Rathbone. There was a question of a foul in the build up on Taylor Gardner-Hickman, but Rathbone took full advantages with a fine curling effort from range.
The visitors restored parity nine minutes later when Lyndon Dykes‘ header at the back post took a fortunate deflection off Wrexham’s George Dobson and trickled over the line.
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Dykes’ goal seemed to suck the life out of the ground as the usually raucous home crowd settled back into their seats for long haul at the STōK Cae Ras.
With clear chances also at a premium in the second half, Birmingham head coach Chris Davies introduced Keshi Anderson in the 66th minute as he searched for fresh attacking impetus.
Anderson almost provided an instant impact when his dash down the wing and low ball across goal presented teammate Alfie May a guilt-edged chance in front of goal, but the Birmingham forward failed to make contact with the ball as it flashed across the edge of the six-yard box.
The introduction of Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher seemed to galvanise Wrexham and they almost found a late winner when Fletcher forced Ryan Allsop into a smart save with carefully-guided header in the 79th minute.
Fletcher’s chance was quickly followed by another opening when a Wrexham corner flashed across goal, forcing Allsop into another vital intervention with several players in close vicinity inside his area.
In the end, a grandstand finish never quite materialised as Birmingham held on for a hard-earned point that stretched Wrexham’s unbeaten run at home to 19 matches this season.
