|
The Match |
| Birmingham arrive into the game after
loosing top spot in the Championship following the 2-2 draw at home to
Ipswich on the weekend. Wrexham, on the other hand, will be happy to
limit the Blues to four goals after shipping five in each of their last
two games. |
|
The Blues |
|
Birmingham have made a good start to the new campaign following their
relegation last season. The Blues found themselves occupying a relegation
zone for the majority of the last campaign and were eventually condemned to
life in the Championship after Portsmouth's up turn in form.
The relegation resulted in the inevitable departure of the
club's higher paid players with Jermain Pennant joining Liverpool and Emile
Heskey also heading north to Wigan in moves that boosted the club coffers by
£12.2 million in total. Manager Steve Bruce has had some of this transfer
money made available to him with striker Gary McSheffrey the most noticeable
arrival in a £4m move from Championship rivals Coventry City. Also joining
the Blues has been Bruno N'Gotty and Radhi Jaidi in free transfer signings from
Bolton.
Despite McSheffrey's headline move he is not the top goal
scorer at the club with this honour currently jointly held by DJ Campbell and Nickolas Bendtner. Campbell joined the club from Brentford earlier on this
year after starring in the Bees run to the FA Cup Fifth Round whereas
Bendtner arrived from Arsenal in the summer on loan after only making three
substitute appearances for the Gunners in the League Cup last season
following his move from FC Copenhagen.
Birmingham defeated Shrewsbury in round one with Sebastian
Larsson scoring the only goal of the game with eight minutes left on the
clock. |
|
Past Encounters |
|
Last 5 Meetings |
| Feb 97: Birmingham 1
Wrexham 3 |
| Feb 95: Birmingham 5
Wrexham 2 |
| Oct 94: Wrexham 1
Birmingham 1 |
| Feb 80: Birmingham 2
Wrexham 0 |
| Oct 79: Wrexham 1
Birmingham 0 |
The
teams last met in the 1996/97 season in the fifth round of the FA Cup with
Wrexham leaving St Andrews with a 3-1 victory. Current Blues manager Steve
Bruce had put Birmingham ahead in the first half but goals from Tony Humes,
Karl Connolly and Bryan Hughes, who later joined Birmingham that season,
secured the win for Wrexham. The
clubs have met only 8 times in their history with Birmingham winning 4
games, Wrexham 2 and there have been 2 draws. |
|
League Form Guide |
|
Team |
Last 5 Games |
League Position |
Form Position |
Last Win |
|
Wrexham |
WDWLL |
12th |
9th |
3 games |
|
Birmingham |
WLWWD |
2nd |
2nd |
2 games |
|
Bookies View |
|
Birmingham are clear favourites to progress
into round three with the best odds of 4/11 available at Sky Bet. You can
get the draw at 4/1 with Stan James and Bet 365 who also have the Wrexham
win out at 9/1. |
|
Team News |
|
Wrexham Team News:
Wrexham are still troubled with injuries with Ryan valentine rated as
doubtful after sustaining concussion during the weekend defeat at Stockport.
Michael Jones will continue in goal if Michael Ingham is still laid low with
a virus and there is no news as of yet over Shaun Pejic, Lee Roche and Matty
Done but Wrexham are definitely without the services of Levi Mackin, Lee
McEvilly and Neil Roberts.
Birmingham Team News: Birmingham have problems in the centre of
defence with
Radhi Jaidi doubtful through injury and Bruno N'Gotty
suspended. Steve Bruce has already admitted he will use the game to give
some of his fringe players an opportunity and his defensive options are
boosted by the news that Stephen Kelly and Olivier Tebily will return to
first team action. On-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner is also
available to play after serving a suspension on the weekend.
Officials: The match referee is P Armstrong from Berkshire and he has
booked 14 players in the four games he has refereed this season. |
|
Round Two Fixtures |
All ties are played to a finish on the night and if the
scores are level following 30 minutes of extra time then a penalty shoot out
will take place to determine the winner.
|
Barnsley v Milton Keynes Dons
Birmingham v Wrexham
Brentford v Luton
Charlton v Carlisle
Crewe v Wigan
Hereford v Leicester
Hull v Hartlepool
Leeds v Barnet
Mansfield v Portsmouth
Millwall v Southampton
Peterborough v Everton
Port Vale v QPR
Reading v Darlington |
Rotherham v Norwich
Sheff Utd v Bury
Southend v Brighton
Walsall v Bolton
Watford v Accrington Stanley
West Brom v CheltenhamWednesday:
Chesterfield v Man City
Doncaster v Derby
Fulham v Wycombe
Middlesbrough v Notts County
Scunthorpe v Aston Villa |
|
|
Venue Guide |
|
Address:
St. Andrew's, St. Andrew's Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B9 4NH.
Telephone Number:
0871 226 1875
Fax Number:
0871 226 1975 |
|
How to get there? |
| By Car: Head south from Wrexham
on the A483, A5, M54 to join the M6 southbound at junction 10a. The
highways agency is
reporting that access to the A38(M) from the junction 6 is limited
for resurfacing and your best bet is to exit the M6 at junction
7 and turn right at the roundabout onto the A34 towards Birmingham City
Centre. Following this road until you reach the junction with the A540
where you turn left onto the A540. At the junction with the A38(M)
continue straight on the A540 and turn left about one mile later into St
Andrews. By
Train:
Nearest station is Birmingham
new Street and is a twenty minute walk from the ground. A taxi ride will
cost around £5 but remember that this game has to be finished on the
night and could go into extra time and penalties. Click here for the Rail
Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950. |
|
When you are there |
| Car Parking: Car
parking at the ground is for permit holders but their is plenty of
street parking. A word of caution that the official web side is
advertising the fact for home supporters to be cautious of the high
number of car crime whilst games at St Andrew's are in progress, so you may want to try one of the
schools/businesses in the locality which charge £3/£4 for the privilege
to park on their grounds. Beer and Grub:
The pubs around the ground are for home supporters only and should be
avoided. The best bet is to drink in the City centre but colours are not
advisable and that comes from the Official Site! It is about a twenty
minute walk to the ground from the City centre with a taxi ride setting
you back around £5. There is also a bar open for away fans inside St
Andrews.
Cash Machines: The machine at the ground
charges £1.65 per transaction but there is a free one at the nearby St
Andrews Retail Park. |
|
How much to get in? |
|
Railway
End: £10 Adults & £5 Concessions
£5 & £1
tickets respectively for season ticket holders was only available if
purchased in advance
|
|
Disabled Facilities |
| There are 36 parking spaces
available at the ground but these have to be pre booked for away fans by
contacting the club in advance. Inside the ground there are 22
wheelchair spaces for away fans in the Railway End with helpers sitting
behind. There is also 6 visual places with hospital radio provided and
10 ambulant spaces with easy access and limited steps to the seating
areas. The DSA is John Starkey and he can be contacted on 01902 337955. |
|
Weather Forecast |
|
Partially cloudy with temperatures dropping to 16 degrees
Celsius and a 8 mph south westerly wind. |
|
Round
Two