Wrexham 1-2 Birmingham City

Wrexham opened at Cardiff and drew 1-1, Moore early, Colwill in the 98th minute. Wrexham drew 1-1 with Watford here last Saturday. Tonight was the third league game, and the first defeat. Still no win.

Birmingham had the first half. Phil Neumann headed Birmingham in front from a corner after 13 minutes. Jay Stansfield missed an open goal. Wrexham came out better after the break. Callum Doyle levelled from a Lewis O'Brien cross. Nine minutes later Neumann headed Birmingham in front again. Parkinson said that was the one that annoyed him. Wrexham had just got level.

He told Sky Wrexham lacked conviction before the break, and that the two goals were among the softest his side have conceded since the National League. "We looked like a team where everyone was looking around the pitch for someone else to go and make it happen."

Neumann, player of the match, said scoring twice and winning the first league game of the season was a great feeling.

Cochrane was booked on seven minutes, Osayi-Samuel just after the restart. Cadamarteri, on for Moore, went in the book in added time. Wrexham changed the attack after the hour: Smith, then Kaboré, Longman and Windass together, then Cadamarteri. Birmingham had already sent Roberts on for Gray at the break.

The numbers side with the result: Wrexham kept 61 per cent of the ball, but Birmingham made the better chances, 1.85 expected goals to 1.42, and Phil Neumann's 8.9 rating was the best mark on the pitch by a distance.