Wrexham and Birmingham draw Hollywood-hyped clash
Wrexham drew 1-1 with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship in a match that was billed as a blockbuster Hollywood derby, but was ultimately short on much drama.
With both sides looking for wins after three matches each without one, the tension was high at Wrexham's Racecourse ground, but there was no lack of atmosphere come kick-off time, with the stadium bouncing in anticipation.
It was a slow start for both sides until the hosts broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through a George Dobson header from a corner, earned after Ben Sheaf had forced Birmingham goakeeper James Beadle into the first save of the match.
Beadle was called upon again to pull his side out of trouble five minutes later when Lewis O'Brien pounced on a short pass after Birmingham had played itself into trouble at the back, blocking the shot superbly to keep the Blues in touch.
Demarai Gray forced Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo into a fine diving save on the half-hour mark before spooning an even better opportunity off target two minutes before the break, and the visitors went in at half-time still a goal down as a result.
But they immediately drew level in the second half after they sliced through Wrexham straight from the kick-off, Jay Stansfield slipping the final ball through to Patrick Roberts, who slotted home calmly.
That lifted Birmingham significantly, and it had the better chances as the clock wound down in a second half that lacked verve.
Kyogo Furuhashi thought he'd netted the winner on 84 minutes for the Blues, but his effort into the top corner wasn't allowed to count because the Japanese was caught offside, and neither side could find a winner from there.
Wrexham remains without a win at home this season and is five points outside the top six in 14th spot on the table, while Birmingham's similarly incosistent form sees it stuck in 11th on 12 points, just two ahead of its host.
