Tom Brady earned bragging rights over fellow American Rob McElhenney as Birmingham City beat Wrexham 3-1 at St Andrew’s on Monday night.
Both co-owners of their respective clubs were in attendance at the star-studded League One encounter, with former England captain David Beckham sitting alongside NFL legend Brady as a Jay Stansfield brace and a stunning goal from debutant Tomoki Iwata sealed a dominant victory for the hosts.
McElhenney and Brady had previously been seen chatting on the pitch before their teams met in the first competitive match between the clubs since their respective investments.
And it was Brady who had the last laugh as his Blues team put on a magnificent display in a game dubbed the “Hollywood Derby.”
McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham with fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, had flown straight from the Emmys to watch the Welsh side face an early test of their League One credentials following promotion last season.
David Beckham was photographed in the stands alongside Tom Brady at St Andrew’s
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney met Brady ahead of the decisive League One clash
A Jay Stansfield double helped Birmingham City seal a dominant win over Wrexham
David Beckham shakes hands with fans as he joins City minority owner Brady in the stands
McElhenney watched as his Wrexham side were soundly beaten by Brady’s Birmingham.
Brady also appeared in good spirits as he faced jeers from travelling Wrexham supporters. The NFL legend, 47, gave a thumbs up as fans chanted “who the hell are you?” in his direction.
Stansfield was Birmingham City’s superhero after the striker, League One’s most expensive player at £20m after the Blues broke the transfer record, scored twice to move them level on points with leaders Wrexham.
The division’s record signing equalised for the home side in the 22nd minute when he reacted quickest to mark a loose ball in the box before his superb guided header in the 52nd minute completed the comeback.
That came after Jack Marriott had put Wrexham ahead after just three minutes with a deflected effort, but Tomoki Iwata completed the scoring with a superb strike from 25 yards in the 59th minute.
Birmingham captain Krystian Bielik was sent off in the 86th minute after picking up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes as the Blues clung to the top of the table.
Wrexham remain top on goal difference despite suffering their first defeat of the season, while second-placed Birmingham have a game in hand.
The game marked the first league meeting between the two clubs in 29 years and a pre-match light show heightened an already electric atmosphere at St Andrew’s as the division’s two title favourites faced off with stars such as Beckham, Tom Wagner and McElhenney in attendance.
There was an early twist in the script as Wrexham, to McElhenney’s delight, got off to a dream start when Marriott’s deflected shot found the net just three minutes after the Blues failed to clear their lines at a corner.
Birmingham almost equalised from a corner of their own when Alex Cochrane played the ball into the box towards Alfie May, who in turn found Paik Seung-ho, who headed wide with his foot from 10 yards.
The home side equalised in the 22nd minute when division-record signing Stansfield headed home from close range on his second league debut for the club after Arthur Okonkwo could only parry May’s powerful shot from the edge of the area.
The Blues struck again soon after when Stansfield regained possession just inside the Wrexham half; the ball eventually found its way to May, whose long-range effort was comfortably saved by Okonkwo.
As expected, the Blues dominated possession but struggled to create another clear-cut chance as Wrexham held firm and absorbed plenty of pressure; Marriott’s early goal was the away side’s only shot of the opening period.
However, Stansfield completed the comeback in the 52nd minute when Cochrane delivered a perfect cross from the left and the striker headed the ball gently into the bottom left corner.
The Blues extended their lead in style seven minutes later when Iwata fired a powerful shot into the bottom right corner from 25 yards to score his first goal for the club on his league debut following a pass from Seung-ho.
Birmingham City debutant Tomoki Iwata (left) scored a shot in the 59th minute.
Wrexham’s Paul Mullin and Birmingham’s Krystian Bielik were booked after a dispute. Bielik received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 86th minute.
Brady (right) and Rob McElhenney were seen deep in conversation at St Andrew’s
Stansfield almost completed his hat-trick soon after when Okonkwo made a crucial save to keep his side in contention while Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved substitute Paul Mullin’s weak shot at the other end.
Blues captain Bielik was sent off in the final minutes for an unnecessary foul on Andy Cannon as Birmingham held on for the remainder of the game to seal a convincing win against their potential promotion rivals.
