Blues 3 – 1 Wrexham: Pure Hollywood

Walking up Cattell Road almost 90 minutes before kick off with a beautiful sunset on my back as the sun started dropping on the city centre didn’t feel like a regular midweek game at St Andrews.

Walking up Cattell Road almost 90 minutes before kick off with a beautiful sunset on my back as the sun started dropping on the city centre didn’t feel like a regular midweek game at St Andrews. The sprinkle of stardust was in the air and it was visible for all to see. Twitter had been blowing up for a few days, but by 6pm the stars arrived in the Kop car park long before the sun had set.

The interview with Tom Brady on Sky as the TV warm-up began gave some insight into the “Monday Night Football” ethos across the pond and how our American cousins were trying to push that into the mindset of the 27,000 plus Brummies. So much so that the very busy fan park stopped serving beer at 7:10 and the DJ focused on telling people to get in the ground as soon as they could. There were some small rumblings, but this just brought more anticipation and discussion about what the Monday Night show would entail. Is Posh Spice singing live in front of her husband in front of the Kop ? Is that Deadpool guy going to do a car chase along the Coventry Road into the Main stand car park ??? We just didn’t know.

What we did get was a very impressive light show with a backdrop of a Birmingham sunset and an incredibly loud PA system pumping into the Tilton and beyond. Many fans would settle for this after what we’ve seen before, but certainly not the likes of the Tilton. Thrown the gauntlet of a Fugees remix to contend with, the Tilton started some songs of their own and managed to drown out the shiny new PA system. As impressive as the lights and pyrotechnics were, it was the collective voice of the traditional Brummie songs that truly stole the show. (Just a quick note to the PA team, if you see and hear the crowd take the lead, it’s your job to supplement the atmosphere and follow, not rage a war of noise)

Then, after the light show was done, the vocal highlight of the night, a truly inspirational rendition of the slower tempo Harry Lauder anthem. What player could not be pumping at this point. We really were at a tipping point now.

The game kicked off, and we were behind. One corner, some fumbling around and the net bulges. This was not what we had wanted, but what has started to become a trend. The crowd responded immediately despite some noise from the North Wales contingent. It took some time, but possession started to build. Iwata was finding his feet, Paik was getting the rhythm together but even in the early exchanges, Cochrane was always available. Possession was leading to little else, and then a shot out of very little from Alfie May led to Okonkwo spilling the ball and Stansfield toe poking it in. Cue volume hitting 9.5. Sky now had the match that the hype had required, and Blues found a new gear. Blues were camped in and Klarer was constantly becoming the wide outlet on the right. Blues finished the half on the up, and everyone was due a break.

The problem was the whole Tilton had waited until 46 minutes to do this and the toilets were pure away day chaos. Nineteen minutes later, and we are good to go. The half time talk from Davies had worked and we started well. Iwata now demanding the ball, bringing in the full backs more and more, and it was Cochrane that showed the Class of ’96 who were watching a decisive ball into Stansfield. His cushioned header across Okonkwo sent the team to the Tilton/Kop corner to celebrate, and there was no looking back. Did we sit on a 2-1 lead ? of course not, we went again, and seven minutes later we were 3-1 up. Iwata got his well-deserved goal and a beautiful finish it was too. Stansfield’s little jump over the shot was worth an assist in itself, but the team knew the game was now won. What followed was then 15-20 minutes of pure dominance the likes of which I can’t recall seeing at that level of comfort for a very long time. There were stages when Blues were at walking pace and Wrexham were a spent force, and the Ole’s then kicked in.

Several substitutions later and Blues were back in a more standard formation with both Stansfield and May taken off for Leonard and Dykes to form a more natural 4-2-3-1. The plan was right, and should have worked, but a mini brawl, and then an inevitable red card changed the dynamics for the last 10 minutes of the game. Ultimately, Wrexham still didn’t trouble Peacock-Farrell would came and claimed the high balls and stopped the long-range pot-shots which is all Wrexham could muster.

The clock ran down, and the three points were in the bag as we moved into the automatic promotion places in the meantime. Let’s be clear, there is no sign of this being “Typical Blues”, and if ever there was a spectacle that defined this, it was last night, both on and off the pitch. A full house, the bright lights of the Sky cameras and an expectant crowd got what they came for. This very rarely happens, but now it is happening.

Ratings

Starting XI

Bailey Peacock-Farrell: 7

Could do nothing about the goal from the corner. Managed everything else very well. His best performance this season ?

Alex Cochrane: 8

Arguably man of the match. Always available, a superb assist for the second goal and ran all night. He really is making that position his own.

Krystian Bielik: 5

No need to get sent off with that second yellow. We all saw a red card coming after the handbags, but I expected it to be a Wrexham player. Created unneeded tension in last 10 mins

Christoph Klarer: 7

So visible and available moving forward. He plays like a Number 6 and was so comfortable again last night. Way too good for this level

Taylor Gardner-Hickman: 6

Not a natural right back and felt like he was shoe-horned into the XI last night. Solid and dependable, but lacked the attacking presence we expect from Laird

Paik Seung-Ho: 8

So, so solid. Essential cog in that midfield machine. I really wish he had longer studs though

Tomoki Iwata: 8

Huge performance for a home league debut, and capped with a wonder strike. Already looking to dislodge Leonard in the middle of the park

Emil Hansson: 5

I’m struggling to see how he’s starting given the strength on the bench. Little evidence of intelligent positions and poor crossing too.

Alfie May: 6

Out of position and hunting for the ball all night. Playing left in a three is not going to work. He looked very frustrated and was hooked early. He hasn’t scored since Stansfield arrived on deadline day.

Jay Stansfield: 9 - Man of the Match

Two goals, and huge energy throughout. It’s Roy of the Rovers stuff.

Willum Þór Willumsson: 7

Nice touches and always involved. He constantly looks like some magic was going to happen, but not key involvement last night. Solid throughout though.

Subs

Alfons Sampsted: 5

Solid and little to do

Ben Davies: N/A

Will be needed at the weekend, but great for him to get a few minutes last night and keep a clean sheet

Keshi Anderson: 5

Little service in the time he was on, but looked lively.

Lyndon Dykes: 4

Had 25 minutes on the pitch, didn’t win anything in the air and had little to no impact.

Marc Leonard: 5

Looked comfortable in his time on the pitch despite playing with 10 men.
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