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Wrexham's wait for a first win of the new campaign goes on after falling to a 2–1 defeat against Birmingham City in the Hollywood derby at the Racecourse Ground.
The Red Dragons struggled to find their rhythm from the opening whistle on Friday and were fortunate not to fall behind early when August Priske's close-range header was cleared off the line by Ollie Rathbone. Birmingham took a deserved lead when Phil Neumann powered a header into the net at the back post from Alex Cochrane's corner, and the visitors should have doubled their advantage when Carlos Vicente broke through on goal and squared to Jay Stansfield, who somehow fired over the bar with the net wide open.
Wrexham showed their first real signs of intent late in the opening half when Danny Imray struck a low shot that was kept out by Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle. Phil Parkinson's men improved after the interval and restored parity when Callum Doyle slotted home from close range following a superb delivery from Lewis O'Brien.
The equalizer lasted just 10 minutes, however, as Neumann nodded in his second of the evening after some poor defending from a cross.
There were few arguments at the final whistle as Wrexham suffered their first loss of the season in what was undoubtedly their most underwhelming display to date.
Central Issue
Wrexham are actively seeking another center back before the transfer deadline, and their defensive showing against Birmingham only underlined the urgency for new additions. Just as Watford caused problems with their physical target man the previous weekend, Birmingham found great success through the imposing presence of Priske up front.
The Danish forward should have converted from an early corner routine, which set the tone for the entire match, and he gave Wrexham skipper Dom Hyam a difficult afternoon with his physical play throughout. It was notable that substitute defender Dan Scarr was offering guidance to his teammates at the break yet was not introduced when the backline needed his physicality most.
Birmingham's dominance was not limited to attack, with defensive pair Neumann and Christoph Klarer equally commanding at the opposite end. Neumann won three aerial duels, while Klarer claimed all eight of his. Kieffer Moore looked increasingly frustrated against a defense that effectively neutralized his qualities.
Having already seen bids turned down for Norway international Henrik Falchener, a transfer now appears even less likely following Viking's qualification for the Champions League. Persuading him to swap fixtures against Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich for trips to Blackburn and Bolton would be a tough sell.
Leicester City defender Harry Souttar continues to be monitored by Wrexham, and with only four days of the window left, he has emerged as a more appealing target despite his concerning injury history. Having featured just twice last season, he could still prove a valuable addition to the Wrexham ranks if handled carefully. The issue is that Wrexham appear to need him far more immediately than that.
A Lack of Support
The other area Wrexham are keen to strengthen in the closing days of the window is attacking midfield. Although the Red Dragons were given a lift by the return of key man Josh Windass in the final stages against Birmingham, they remain too dependent on his creativity to rescue them from difficult moments.
Nathan Broadhead extended his disappointing start to the campaign with another subdued attacking display, while Ollie Rathbone showed plenty of effort but still lacks the natural qualities for the role at this level. Both have a place in a broader squad, but Wrexham require more dependable options if they are genuinely serious about their short-term Premier League aspirations.
Wrexham will encounter coveted target Femi Azeez when they take on league-leading Millwall in midweek, with the fixture falling just one day after the transfer window shuts. Birmingham are also reported to have submitted an offer for Ipswich Town's Anis Mehmeti, who appears reluctant to step down to the Championship this summer.
If Mehmeti tuned in to Friday night's match, Wrexham will need to put together quite the persuasive case to win him over their opponents.
Callum Doyle Is Premier League-Bound
This time next year, Callum Doyle should be gracing the Premier League. Those who packed into the Racecourse Ground on Friday evening will be hoping it is in a Wrexham shirt. At just 22 years of age, he already boasts 200 competitive appearances and has established himself as one of the leaders within this Wrexham squad, as much through his mentality as his technical ability.
Doyle earned a place in the Championship Team of the Season during his first campaign in North Wales, and also claimed the club's Young Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year honors. It is not just the fans who recognize the exceptional qualities of the former Manchester City academy graduate.
Friday was no exception, as Doyle stood out not only as the best performer in Wrexham's defensive line but also as one of their most potent attacking outlets. He thrived in the freedom given to him by Ekomie at left wingback, pushing forward at every opportunity and consistently looking to drive with the ball or attempt ambitious passes that many teammates seemed reluctant to try.
Those moments serve as a reminder that Doyle is still developing, but he is clearly an exceptionally gifted central defender with aspirations of competing at the highest level. Wrexham undoubtedly share those same ambitions. The challenge now is to fulfill them before Doyle moves beyond their reach.
The Winless Start Continues
No side secures promotion in August, but a poor start can certainly damage its chances of doing so come May. Wrexham can make a case for having been the better team in their earlier draws against Cardiff City and Watford, but there are no excuses to be made following a thoroughly deserved defeat to Birmingham.
It leaves Parkinson's side with just two points from a possible nine in their opening three fixtures of the campaign, a run that has highlighted more weaknesses than strengths and cast doubt over their readiness for the demanding season that lies ahead.
Wrexham's three recent promotion-winning seasons were built on the foundation of a strong home record at the Racecourse Ground, and the schedule shows no signs of easing, with Burnley and Southampton set to visit before the international break. Wherever it comes from, the Red Dragons are in desperate need of a victory soon.
That said, they are still a point ahead of where they stood at the same stage last season, when they had managed just one draw and suffered two defeats in their opening three games. Their first victory eventually arrived away at Millwall in the fourth match of their Championship campaign.
Next up, they head back to The Den on Wednesday night.