Birmingham City

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Birmingham manager Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM:

"It was very frustrating overall.

"We started really well, looked dangerous. We scored a goal I think was onside that was disallowed.

"I don't know what I can say on the officials but I can't remember a game where I've been so disappointed before.

"I couldn't believe some of the decisions but we are never going to win games if we defend like we did for their two goals.

"They haven't had to work hard to score. That cost us the game; that is not on. I wasn't happy at half-time but we responded well. We gave ourselves too much to do away from home."

Image source, Opta

Something has to give as Norwich City welcome Birmingham City to Carrow Road on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

The Canaries have won two and lost three of their opening five games to lie a point behind Blues, who are one of just two unbeaten teams in the Championship, along with leaders Swansea.

Chris Davies' men have drawn four of their five matches, though their only win came in their last away game at Wrexham.

• Norwich have lost each of their past three league games against Birmingham City, never before losing four in a row to them.

• After their 2-1 win in this exact fixture last season, Birmingham could win back-to-back league visits to Norwich for the very first time, with this their 35th trip.

• Norwich have won each of their past three home league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), last winning four in a row in December 2016.

• Birmingham have won just one of their past eight away league games (D3 L4), though it was a 2-1 victory at Wrexham in their last game on the road.

• Marvin Ducksch scored three goals in Birmingham's two Championship games against Norwich City last season, his most against any side in 2025-26.

Kym Smith
Fan writer

Image source, Nick Potts/PA Wire

Local derbies are often entertaining occasions in the league season, and we have an extra one this year with Wolves in the Championship.

Like us, Wolves have had a decent start to the season and they are certainly going to be in the hunt for at least a play-off place. They have plenty of firepower, but both teams have struggled to keep clean sheets, so goals were probably something to expect.

The standout incident at the start of the game was the appearance of Tom Wagner in the stands for the first time since February.

To quote poet William Ernest Henley, he looked "beaten but unbowed" - strokes need lengthy rehabilitation, but he received a rapturous greeting from the fans. We all hope he continues to recover well.

There was a shock start when Wolves dangerman Fer Lopez scored with their first attack, while Blues were still waking up. We seemed a bit rattled after this, and Wolves were definitely the better team for the first 20 minutes.

Jay Stansfield got us back into the game with a vicious strike past Jose Sa, notching his first goal of the season and setting St Andrew's bouncing.

The status quo didn't last long though, as we were caught out on a corner and Ladislav Krejci was able to power a header past James Beadle.

Then before the end of the half, we had one of those "derby day moments" when Jackson Tchatchoua turned and passed the ball back to his keeper – except it ended up in the net for a contender for bizarre own goal of the season.

Blues had a completely unexpected equaliser and there was pandemonium.

A game to remember for quite a few reasons; Stansfield off the mark to end his goal drought, a jaw dropping own goal and best of all, the return of Tom Wagner.

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Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

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Tom Wagner's entrance was initially only noticed by those closest to the director's box as the Blues chairman eased down the steps to his front-row seat.

Once the rest of the crowd spotted the American, there was a huge roar - this was a long-awaited moment.

The toll his illness has taken on the 57-year-old was plain to see, with a prominent scar on his head and his left arm sporting a sling.

His presence in the stadium mid-recovery was nonetheless significant, serving as a sign that Knighthead's ambitious plans for the club can reasonably be assumed to be on track.

The club's owners are not a one-man band. But Wagner is the figurehead, the charismatic presence and the man capable of influencing political and business leaders.

His return to St Andrew's was inevitably emotional, borne out by almost tearful tributes paid by goalscorer and record-signing Jay Stansfield in his post-match media duties.

Everyone involved with Birmingham City needed to see Tom Wagner. And he knew that.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

It was a captivating game of football: a full-throttle local derby.

More than eight years on from their last meeting, Birmingham and Wolves went toe-to-toe with great vigour. The stadium was full, voices were loud and the emotion was felt as Birmingham's co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner returned to St Andrew's to a marvellous welcome from the home fans.

And what joy there was around him when Jay Stansfield scored in spectacular fashion - only his third goal since last November.

Jackson Tchatchoua's own goal was comical and Adam Armstrong's late miss was arguably even worse of a blunder. So yes, there was some fortune, but anything less than a point would have been tremendously harsh on Birmingham.

They maintained their unbeaten run with an aggressive performance, unlucky with their own chances, especially in the second half when they had more about them than Wolves.

When I last saw Birmingham they produced a drab showing, losing at Derby near the end of last season, a game where they waited more than an hour to have any sort of attempt at goal.

Now they seem to have added an extra layer to their approach. Centre-backs Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann are a real presence in both boxes. James Beadle in goal made a splendid save when Wolves were 1-0 up - a crucial point in such a chaotic match. And Liam Millar looked a real livewire on his debut.

I know from speaking to a lot of Birmingham fans that manager Chris Davies has divided opinion - but my impression is that Blues are continuing to make progress.

St Andrew's was really buzzing on Sunday lunchtime, inside and outside the stadium. A far cry from the days a few years ago when a fair amount of the seating areas were closed for renovation, with the club bound for its short stay in League One.

Image source, Opta

Birmingham City welcome Wolves for the first West Midlands derby between the two sides for eight years on Sunday (12:30 BST kick-off).

Blues are unbeaten in their opening four Championship games, albeit just one of those was a victory, while they have drawn the other three.

Wolves suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday night, going down 4-2 at West Ham but Cesar Peixoto's side remain near the top of the table in fourth position at this early stage of the campaign before the weekend's action begins.

• This will be the first season in which Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers will face in the league since 2017-18, when Wolves completed a Championship double over their rivals.

• Wolves are looking to win three successive league games against Birmingham City for the first time since December 1999. They have also won their past three league visits to St Andrew's.

• Birmingham are unbeaten in nine league games (W4 D5), their longest run in the Championship since February 2020 (10).

• Wolves have won just one of their previous 23 away league outings (D6 L16), losing 4-2 at West Ham last time out.

• Wolves' Jose Sa is without a clean sheet in any of his past nine league starts – he is one of two goalkeepers to concede over two goals more than expected according to Opta's expected goals on target model (2.1) in the Championship this season alongside Burnley's Max Weiss (3.4).

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City winger Liam Millar is having a medical at Birmingham City ahead of a loan move.

The 26-year-old had interest from Stoke City and Preston North End.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic did not rule out an exit before the deadline, despite Millar's winner at Coventry City on Saturday which earned Hull a second win from their opening two Premier League games.

Canada international Millar was understood to be open to a return to Preston after spending 2023-24 on loan at Deepdale, but he is now due to move to Birmingham.

He moved to Hull from Basel in August 2024 and has made 53 appearances, scoring five goals for the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.

There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

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Birmingham City have made an offer for Ipswich Town forward Anis Mehmeti. Blues' Championship rivals Wrexham are also understood to be interested in the 25-year-old. (Pete O'Rourke), external

Find more of Friday's EFL gossip here.