Birmingham City

"Last time I checked, looking at the table, they [Watford] are doing okay - where should they be?

"Make it make sense to me. Watford Football Club, what is going on there?"

It's been a week for managerial sackings, and the 72+ team have got plenty to talk about, from Matt Bloomfield's departure from Luton Town to another change on Watford's managerial wheel of misfortune.

What of Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner venturing into the away end, you ask? Well, they've got that covered too.

Listen to the latest episode of the 72+ podcast and more on BBC Sounds.

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies believes winger Demarai Gray has hit the ground running since returning to his boyhood club.

Gray has started every Championship match this season and scored his first goal of the campaign on Tuesday, equalising in the 99th minute to earn a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

It extended their unbeaten streak at St Andrew's which now stands at 29 matches.

"[I've told Gray] you're a big signing, we signed you to have big moments and that's a big moment," Davies told BBC Radio WM.

"We are unbeaten at home and that means a lot to me because it's become a fortress for us at home.

"What I love about Demarai is I've given him jobs to do and he'll do it. He is running and running and running for the team and every time he gets the ball he can look dangerous."

In contrast, striker Kyogo Furuhashi is another one of Birmingham City's summer signings but is yet to make an impact.

The 30-year-old is most known for being a prolific goalscorer for Celtic, bagging 85 goals in 165 appearances.

But the Japan international is yet to score in the Championship for Birmingham, only so far bagging in the first round of the League Cup against Sheffield United.

"Kyogo gets himself into some great positions. When one of those [shots] goes in, his whole confidence will lift from there," Davies added.

"I love his energy, I love the way he moves and the runs he makes. He's just got to keep working. When that first [goal] goes in he'll flourish from there."

Listen to the full interview with Chris Davies and more Blues on Sounds.

Image source, Opta

The EFL weekend kicks off in style with the much-hyped clash of celebrity-backed Wrexham and Birmingham on Friday night (20:00 BST).

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny are sure to be present at the Stok Cae Ras, though Blues co-owner Tom Brady is unlikely to make the trip, given his NFL broadcasting commitments this weekend.

The clubs have met just 11 times over the past century, but Wrexham have only beaten Birmingham in the league once, winning 1-0 at the Racecourse 46 years ago this month.

Phil Parkinson's men are two points and four places below 11th-placed City after a 1-1 draw at Leicester on Tuesday, but have taken only two points from their four home games following promotion.

Blues might have the best home form in the top-four divisions of English football, Tuesday's last-gasp goal from Demarai Gray salvaging a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday to extend their unbeaten home run to 29 matches, but their form on the road has been pretty much the opposite of late.

• Wrexham have won just one of their six league games against Birmingham City (D2 L3), winning their first match up 1-0 in October 1979 before failing to win the next five.

• After failing to win any of their 14 away league games against Welsh sides between 2011 and 2022, Birmingham City are since unbeaten across their past four in succession (W2 D2).

• Wrexham are unbeaten in each of their last three Championship matches (W1 D2) and could go 4+ matches unbeaten in the second tier of English football for the first time since a run of eight between February and April 1982.

• After winning seven straight away league matches between April and August, Birmingham City have since lost each of their last three on the road without scoring a single goal, and could lose four on the bounce without scoring for the first time since October 2013 (also in the Championship).

• Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson failed to beat Birmingham twice in League One last season (D1 L1) but won his two most recent Championship games against the Blues in 2018-19 with Bolton.

Image source, Rex Features

It was more than a decade (and 99 minutes) in the making but Demarai Gray's first goal for Birmingham City at St Andrew's since 2015 triggered wild celebrations at the grabbing of what could prove a vital point come the end of the season.

With seconds of stoppage time remaining, and Blues staring down the barrel of a fourth defeat in five games, Gray hammered a goal in off the underside of the crossbar to secure a 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

It was the striker's first goal in front of the home fans since another 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers in April 2015.

"Yeah it was good - it was one of those ones that was in slow motion," Gray told BBC Radio WM.

"It was a bit frantic and obviously scoring a late equaliser there was a lot of emotion in it.

"I'm happy to get off the mark. It was a big moment and it got us a point."

Gray started his career with Birmingham before moves to Leicester City, a spell in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen and a return to England at Everton.

He left Merseyside in September 2023 and has spent most of the past two years with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.

Gray said once he decided to come back to England, it was always going to be with Blues.

"I wasn't really interested in going anywhere else to be honest," he said.

"I felt like it was the right time off the back of the Saudi move and I'm glad it's happened and I'm here and proud to give my services to the club.

"I'd forgotten how intense the Championship is. I've been feeling it, but feeling good too. The way we train is good and I'm feeling the benefits of it - the energy from being back at the club helps."

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies felt the game turned on Eiran Cashin's defensive error as his team needed a late equaliser to grab a 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

He told BBC Radio WM: "It was a game I felt we were very comfortable in, in the sense of being 1-0 up early, dominating the game, all the territory and all the possession and then one big error led to them somehow finding their way back into the game, which knocked everyone inside the stadium.

"We had to regroup at half-time, came out well and had a couple of big moments, then they go up the other end and free-kick and goal. Poor errors from our point of view, and I was very frustrated, how we were 2-1 down in that game is beyond me.

"One thing we did show is spirit because you don't finish a game like that unless you've got it, and we retain our unbeaten home record.

Image source, Opta

Birmingham will seek to get back on track when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to St Andrew's on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

Blues went down 3-0 at Coventry on Saturday to fall to 11th in the Championship, though remain within striking distance of the play-offs.

They are seeking to extend the longest unbeaten home record in the top four tiers of English football as the second-bottom Owls come to town.

Chris Davies' men will need to be wary, however, Wednesday have picked up five points from their past four league fixtures, with four of those coming in their two most recent away games.

• Birmingham City have lost just one of their past six home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D1), a 0-1 reverse in October 2020.

• After their 2-0 win in February 2024, Sheffield Wednesday could win back-to-back league meetings with Birmingham City for the first time since February 2016.

• Birmingham are unbeaten in their past 28 home league games (W23 D5), their second-longest ever such run, after a spell of 36 games from October 1970 to April 1972.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), though that was their last at Portsmouth (2-0).

• Sheffield Wednesday have only lost one of their past 13 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W6 D6), a 0-1 defeat to Blackburn in December 2024.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies said his team had been affected by inconsistent refereeing after their 3-0 defeat at Coventry City:

He told BBC Radio WM: "It was a tough afternoon. We had a change in the warm-up with an injury, which isn't ideal, it limits you a little bit.

"We started the game OK, we were well in the game with nothing between the teams, but the red card has completely changed the game.

"It's harsh to lose a player for those two challenges and what's made it more frustrating for me, and I made the point just now [to the referee] that their players were kicking the ball away from all our quick free-kicks, and if we're going to lose a game based on losing a player to two yellow cards what we have to see is rules being adhered to by officials.

"All I want is consistency across the board to give us a chance."

Image source, Opta

Chris Davies' Birmingham City travel less than an hour along the M6 to Frank Lampard's Coventry City in a West Midlands derby on Saturday (12:30 BST).

A win for either side would propel them above the other in the Championship table as each have 10 points from their opening six matches.

The Sky Blues are coming off the back of three draws, while Blues hope to build a winning run after beating Swansea City 1-0 last time out.

• Coventry are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Birmingham (W3 D3), conceding just one goal in this run.

• Birmingham won their last league meeting with Coventry 3-0 in April 2024, last beating the Sky Blues twice in succession in the 2006-07 campaign.

• Coventry are unbeaten in their first six league games of a season for the first time since 2019-20 (first 10 in League One) and for the first time in the second tier or higher since the 1993-94 Premier League campaign (first eight).

• No Championship team have scored more 90th minute goals (including stoppage time) this season than Birmingham who have scored three, with Lyndon Dykes netting a 94th minute winner against Swansea last time out.

• Coventry City's Jack Rudoni ranks first for shots attempted (21), ball carry distance (1,425m) and possession won in the final third (10) among all Championship players this season.

Image source, BBC Sport

Birmingham City can feel happy with how they have dealt with their return to the Championship but there is still room for improvement, says head coach Chris Davies.

Blues have won three of their opening six games to sit in eighth place in the table, having won the League One title last season.

"It's a hard league - we've had really competitive games but even the ones we've been on the wrong side of, we've been competitive," Davies told BBC Radio WM.

"Every team carries a threat and you have to be strong defensively."

Birmingham visit Coventry on Saturday (12:30 BST) at the start of a week which sees them play three games in six days.

"The general feeling is we're happy with how we've competed but you can also see it's pretty relentless," added Davies.

"We're pleased with how we've adapted but we think there's still room to grow - you need to have a system but enough flexibility to solve different problems."

"That night at St Andrew's with the play-off semi-final and the penalties. The atmosphere that night was one of the best I've seen and heard and felt in any stadium.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere. That was one of the reasons I wanted to play for Birmingham."

Former Blues striker Tommy Mooney has been reminiscing over his time at Birmingham City and explains why he was lured to the Midlands from Watford amid Premier League interest and talks through his favourite memories of the club.

Listen to the full interview with Tommy Mooney and more Blues on Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham City have a squad that is "easily top-six" quality says recent arrival Jack Robinson.

The 32-year-old centre-back joined Blues on transfer deadline day and, at the time, said the stature and ambition of the club, following their record League One title-winning season last term, was the main reason he moved from Sheffield United.

It is a sentiment he has echoed after making his debut as Blues snapped their run of three defeats in a row in all competitions with a 1-0 win over Swansea, thanks to substitute Lyndon Dykes' late header.

"It's easily a top-six squad," Robinson, who won promotion to the top flight with the Blades in 2022-23, told BBC Radio WM.

"I suppose it's down to us players to prove that.

"We've got a really strong bench - I'd say Premier League players coming on to help us and they make a massive difference when they come on.

"We've got to be consistent throughout the league. It's a tough ask when the international breaks stop in November - the season gets hard and that's where you need to be consistent and pick up those wins.

"Be good away from from home and nice and solid at home and this squad has more than enough to go at this season."

Eighth-placed Blues take on Coventry City, in sixth, in a West Midlands derby at the CBS Arena on Saturday [12.30 BST].

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham City ended a three-match goalless losing streak with victory over Swansea City thanks to a stoppage-time header from striker Lyndon Dykes.

But despite the string of poor results that preceded it, Blues boss Chris Davies said that there was "a lot" he liked about his side's performances so far this season.

"I thought we were the better team. We deserved to win the game. I think we've been close in a couple of narrow defeats recently, but there's a lot about our game I have liked," he told BBC Sport.

"I think we handled the game really well. Swansea are an established side at this level, good team in possession, and I thought we really limited then.

"We were very aggressive and we created lots of moments and chances to win the match."