Birminghamvs.Wrexham

Blues will head into Monday's contest in sixth place in the League One table, while the visitors are currently sitting top of the standings.

Match preview

After suffering relegation last season, Birmingham are among the main contenders to win promotion to the second tier, especially after splashing out to strengthen their side in the recent transfer window, including the re-signing of Jay Stansfield in a League One record deal.

Birmingham have ultimately made an impressive start to their first season in the third tier since 1991-92, having dropped just two points in their opening four league matches.

After drawing 1-1 with Reading in their league opener, Blues have gone on to record three consecutive league wins over Wycombe Wanderers, Leyton Orient and Wigan Athletic.

Alfie May saw his opener cancelled out in the most recent league outing against the Latics, before Scott Wright netted a 91st-minute winner on his Birmingham debut to snatch all three points.

Chris Davies's charges have been in EFL Trophy action since beating Wigan, with his side playing out a 1-1 draw against League Two Walsall before losing the penalty shootout for the bonus point.

Blues are now focused on claiming all three points in their first game against Wrexham since winning in extra-time in an EFL Cup tie in September 2006, while Monday's fixture represents the first league meeting between the two sides since Birmingham ran out 5-2 winners in February 1995.

Not content with securing back-to-back promotions, Wrexham are ready to mount another promotion push as they look to end their 42-year for second-tier football.

The Red Dragons have made an impressive start to the season, having won four and drawn one of their five league matches.

Wrexham claimed a 3-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers and played out a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers, before going on to claim three consecutive league victories without conceding.

After dispatching Reading and Peterborough United, Phil Parkinson's side swept past Shrewsbury Town via a 3-0 scoreline thanks to goals from Ollie Palmer, Elliott Lee and Jack Marriott.

Wrexham carried their superb form into their recent EFL Trophy clash against League Two Salford City, with Paul Mullin and Will Boyle grabbing a goal apiece to fire their side to a 2-1 win, ensuring the Red Dragons have now gone five competitive games without defeat.

They will enter Monday's contest as the division's highest scorer while they also share the best defensive record with Stockport County, and they will hope they can produce another strong display to claim an away win over Birmingham for the first time in English Football League history.

Birmingham City League One form:

D

W

W

W

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

L

Wrexham League One form:

W

D

W

W

W

Wrexham form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

W

W

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon right-back Ethan Laird and attacking midfielder Luke Harris due to ankle injuries.

Birmingham will also have to cope without the injured trio of Dion Sanderson, Lee Buchanan and Keshi Anderson

Stansfield, who arrived from Fulham on deadline day, is set to start after making his second Birmingham debut in the recent EFL Trophy clash with Walsall.

Davies may opt to play Stansfield behind Alfie May, who has scored four goals in as many league appearances this season.

As for Wrexham, they are expected to be without Anthony Forde and George Evans due to injury, but George Dobson and Lee should shake off their fitness issues to feature in the matchday squad.

Midfielder Andy Cannon is set to return to the starting lineup after sitting out the last two matches with a hamstring issue.

Mullin may have marked his first start of the season with a goal in the EFL Trophy clash with Salford, but he may have to settle for a place on the bench, with Marriott and Palmer likely to operate in the front two.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Gardner-Hickman, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Wright, Stansfield, Hansson; May

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, McClean; Cannon, Dobson, Lee; Marriott, Palmer

We say: Birmingham City 1-1 Wrexham

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