Wrexham 1-2 Birmingham: Phil Neumann's double extends Red Dragons' winless start to Championship season

29.08.2026, 02:31 skysports.com

Wrexham's winless start to the season was extended to four games in all competitions after they were beaten 2-1 by Birmingham at the Racecourse Ground.

Centre-back Phil Neumann - who has never scored more than two goals in a single season - scored both Blues goals, either side of a Callum Doyle equaliser.

It was the ideal response from Chris Davies' side, following their 6-1 hammering at the hands of Brentford in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

The Blues deservedly established a lead after 13 minutes, when Neumann headed in Alex Cochrane's header at the far post, but few could deny it should have been 3-0 at the break.

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Before the opener, Ollie Rathbone was in the right place at the right time to block August Priske's header from point-blank range, while after it, Jay Stansfield stepped on to Carlos Vicente's neat cut-back and inexplicably powered a shot past the right-hand post when it looked easier to score.

Wrexham generated just 0.22 xG in the first half, but came out with more bite after the break and were rewarded when Lewis O'Brien's dipping cross was helped past James Beadle by Callum Doyle.

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But the lead lasted less than 10 minutes. Priske launched a long throw in from the right and recycled it when the first delivery was cleared, finding Neumann, who glanced a header past Anthony Patterson.

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Wrexham upped the tempo as the final whistle approached, but they could not find the goal that would have haunted Birmingham.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson speaking on Sky Sports:

"The two goals we conceded are two of the softest goals we've conceded in all my time here - and that includes being in the National League. You can't concede goals like that and expect to win a game of football.

"You've got to defend the box - it's as simple as that - in any division, but particularly the Championship we've got to defend our box better, head the ball out, defend set-plays.

"I thought we lacked conviction in our play tonight in the first half, I've got to be honest. Second half, I thought we were better, got the goal back, and that's why I'm so annoyed with the second goal because we'd started really well, got back in the game.

"We almost looked like a team of everyone looking around the pitch for someone else to go and make it happen, rather than taking responsibility as individuals.

"In football, you can't feel sorry for yourself and I felt we looked like that tonight for some reason. You cannot feel sorry for yourself because no one else is going to help you, you can only help yourself. We've got to look long and hard at ourselves and come out fighting at Millwall."

Birmingham manager Chris Davies speaking on Sky Sports:

"It was a really good night for us. I thought we started the game really well, just like you want to away from home. We got on the front foot, had some moments we could've been maybe a couple of goals up at half-time, so I was really pleased with that.

"I think we looked like a team, that's the main thing. We looked like a real team, and we had to be to come to a place like Wrexham and play a really solid, really good side, especially at home. It's a big, big win."

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Jobi McAnuff on Sky Sports Football:

"They possibly need a more dominant centre-half, which is something they had during that run through the leagues they had.

"Looking at tonight [2-1 defeat to Birmingham] sometimes it takes a performance or scenarios like this to maybe jog the hierarchy.

"One thing I'm sure Phil Parkinson will say is that he's been backed to the hilt by that ownership group in terms of what he feels he needs to move the club on.

"I'm sure they will feel there's enough there, but I'm sure with Phil, questions will be getting asked in the next few days."

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