David Beckham proves to be Tom Brady’s lucky charm as former England captain sits alongside NFL legend to watch Birmingham beat Wrexham 3-1, with Welsh side’s co-owner Rob McElhenney also in attendance

Tom Brady earned bragging rights over his American compatriot 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 fixture, with former England captain David Beckham sat alongside NFL legend Brady as a Jay Stansfield double and a stunning strike from debutant Tomoki Iwata sealed a dominate win for the hosts. 

McElhenney and Brady had earlier been spotted in conversation 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 side produced a superb display in a match dubbed the ‘Hollywood Derby’.

McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham with fellow Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds, had flown directly from the Emmys to watch the Welsh side face an early test of their League One credentials following promotion last season. 

David Beckham was pictured in the stands alongside Tom Brady at St Andrew’s

Rob McElhenney, co-owner of Wrexham, met Brady before the crunch League One clash 

A Jay Stansfield brace helped Birmingham City seal a dominant victory over Wrexham

David Beckham shakes hands with fans as he joined City minority owner Brady in the stands

McElhenney watched on as his Wrexham side were soundly beaten by Brady’s Birmingham

Brady was also in good spirits as he faced x-rated taunts from Wrexham’s travelling supporters. The NFL legend, 47, gave a thumbs-up as fans shouted ‘who the f***ing hell are you?’ in his direction.

Stansfield was Birmingham City’s superhero after the striker, League One’s most expensive player at £20million after Blues smashed the transfer record, scored a brace to move them level on points with leaders Wrexham. 

The division’s record signing drew the home side level on 22 minutes when he reacted quickest to turn home a loose ball in the box before his superb guided header on 52 minutes completed the turnaround.

That came after Jack Marriott put Wrexham into the lead after just three minutes with a deflected effort only for Tomoki Iwata to complete the scoring with a superb strike from 25-yards out on 59 minutes. 

Birmingham captain Krystian Bielik saw red on 86 minutes after picking up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes as Blues held on to move joint top of the table.

Wrexham remain at the summit on goal difference despite slipping to their first defeat of the season while although 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 lights show ramped up an already electric atmosphere at St Andrew’s as the division’s two title favourites went head-to-head with stars including Beckham, Tom Wagner and McElhenney in attendance.

There was an early twist in the script as Wrexham – much to the delight of McElhenney, made a dream start when Marriott’s deflected shot found the net just three minutes in after Blues failed to clear their lines at a corner.

Birmingham almost drew level from a corner of their own as Alex Cochrane played the ball into the box along the ground into the path of Alfie May who in turn found Paik Seung-ho who side-footed the ball wide from 10-yards out.

The home side equalised on 22 minutes when the division’s record signing Stansfield finished from close range on his second league debut for the club after Arthur Okonkwo could only parry May’s powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Blues came forward again soon after as Stansfield won back possession just inside the Wrexham half, the ball eventually found its way to May who saw his effort from distance comfortably held by Okonkwo.

As expected, Blues dominated possession but struggled to carve out another clear-cut chance as Wrexham sat deep and soaked up plenty of pressure with Marriott’s early goal the away side’s only shot of the first period.

However, Stansfield completed the turnaround on 52 minutes when Cochrane delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left and the striker planted a cushioned header into the bottom left corner.

Blues extended their lead in style seven minutes later as Iwata unleashed a powerful effort into the bottom right corner from 25-yards out to score his first goal for the club on his league debut from Seung-ho’s pass.

Birmingham City debutant Tomoki Iwata (left) scored a drilled shot in the 59th minute

Wrexham’s Paul Mullin and Birmingham’s Krystian Bielik were booked after a dispute. Bielik would pick up a second yellow to be sent off in the 86th minute

Brady (right) and Rob McElhenney were spotted in a deep conversation at St Andrew’s

Stansfield almost completed his treble soon after as Okonkwo made a crucial stop to keep his side in the contest while Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved substitute Paul Mullin’s tame effort at the other end.

Blues skipper Bielik was sent off in the closing stages for an unnecessary foul on Andy Cannon as Birmingham saw out the remaining minutes to seal a statement win against their potential promotion rivals.