Wrexham 1-1 Birmingham City: Headlines from the Hollywood derby

In the end, there was no Ryan Reynolds, no Rob McElhenney and no Tom Brady.

The A-list owners weren't in town, neither were there any other cameos at the Cae Ras.

So much for the so-called 'Hollywood derby'.

That does not mean the eyes of the world were not on Wrexham on Friday night, though, especially given the live screening of the match in the United States.

Instead of celebrities, this was pure Championship - the good and the bad as goals from George Dobson and Patrick Roberts in the 1-1 draw kept the plotline bubbling in the latest instalment.

Sport does not always have to be at the highest level to be captivating and the mistakes, missed chances and a fair bit of needle made this game equally parts frustrating and fascinating for fans.

Especially when you consider that both of the division newcomers - and their managers - feel the need to prove they belong at this level.

While the Wrexham story has had its showbiz profile - and the dollars to help - there has always been more grit than glamour about the way they have worked their way up to this level.

There has been quality, but always underpinned by a relentless give-it-all effort.

The good news for those watching at home and in Hollywood, is Wrexham are looking more like that kind of side with every passing week.

After a hard-working comeback at Leicester City, Wrexham began the game with an intensity reminiscent of the way they won back-to-back promotions.

It should have brought them more than just the one goal and left Birmingham looking lethargic in comparison.

It could not last - some players literally on their knees by the final whistle - but it is another sign that Parkinson is building a togetherness even with 13 new faces.

Even if he does look to add players who will fit into that model, making sure that ethos sticks is no easy feat - to the 57-year-old's credit.

"When you get them in, we want them to understand what it means to play for Wrexham and the expectations of playing for this club," said Parkinson.

"Our supporters have seen real character in the football pitch and I think we're growing into what we expect of a Wrexham team."

Parkinson singled out the impactful Issa Kabore as an example, the wing-back already a fan favourite just a handful of games into his loan move from Manchester City.

The big tests are coming when they face the league's current top three in their next four fixtures.

The one American owner present at Cae Ras was Birmingham's Tom Wagner, bobble-hatted in the Blues away end having also been spotted at the adjacent Turf Inn pub before the game sharing pints with both sets of supporters.

He lead a rallying cry at half-time with a video posted on social media admitting the energy on the pitch "wasn't great" and urging more noise from the fans.

What manager Chris Davies could do with is a little less noise about his own position.

Remarkably given the way they stylishly stormed to promotion last year, there have been supporter grumblings about the start to the season with one win in five league games going into this fixture.

He and his side were late out of the dressing rooms at half-time, although he said it was due to giving "direction" rather than "shouting and screaming".

Regardless, it felt like a key moment and his team responded as such with the goal coming within 20 seconds and as the result of an upping of intensity.

Although lacking the killer edge as they finished the better side, it still represents steady progress for a manager who made a point of reminding after the game that ambition is one thing - and Birmingham have plenty under Wagner and Brady - but it doesn't have to be rushed.

"The idea that we were going to cruise the Championship would be a deluded mindset for me," said Davies. "We knew from the off it would be a very, very hard season and you have to earn anything you get.

"But now I've seen how we've competed, we've got quality, we can enjoy the challenge, and I'm more optimistic now than at the start of the season."

Parkinson admitted disappointment with his side being punished for their one major slip up, and Davies could feel the same.

What will irk more so is that it once again came from a set-piece, the sixth time Blues have conceded from a dead ball this term - the most in the division.

They defended other similar scenarios well enough, but only one has to count.

"It's very frustrating because it's an awful goal from our point of view and the determination and the way we defended them all after that was excellent," he said.

"We had the same at Coventry where we concede from the first long throw and the other seven we defend excellently, so it's something we need to be more tuned in from the start of games."

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