Barry Fry sends "surprise" warning to Birmingham City as Wembley final looms | OneFootball

The Posh Director of Football has connections to both clubs featuring in next Sunday's final at Wembley

Peterborough United's Director of Football, Barry Fry, believes that his current employers "will surprise" his former club Birmingham City in next weekend's EFL Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.

Both clubs are extremely dear to the 79-year-old's heart, having spent two-and-a-half years in the dugout at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park before moving to London Road in 1996 as chairman/manager before taking up his current role within the Posh hierarchy in 2005, with his time at the club fast-approaching 30 years.

Peterborough have endured an indifferent season under Darren Ferguson in League One after back-to-back play-off semi-final defeats, but go into the showpiece event looking to preserve their status as EFL Trophy champions and an unbeaten record in North London, having defeated Wycombe Wanderers under the Wembley arch 12 months ago courtesy of Harrison Burrows' dramatic strike.

Meanwhile, Blues are on the cusp of returning to the Championship at the first time of asking, needing a single-digit figure of points within a gruelling fixture schedule to achieve such a feat. The side from the Second City are also looking to record a third victory in this competition, with Fry in the dugout for their last double-winning season at this level in 1994/95, defeating Carlisle United at the old Wembley through Paul Tait's golden goal.

Speaking on a fresh episode of the club's official 'Posh Unfiltered' podcast, Fry believes that the runaway third tier leaders, who have gone on to smash records set by his side 30 years ago, will not have it all their own way next week.

Barry Fry believes Peterborough United can surprise Birmingham City

The charismatic figure has never shied away from stating how much he enjoyed his managerial stint in B9, as he delivered a passionate message to Bluenoses after their chaotic and underwhelming relegation season last term.

Fry was also greeted to a heroes' welcome at St Andrew's back in September, as Davies' men found themselves 2-0 down after 16 minutes through goals from Ricky-Jade Jones and Emmanuel Fernandez, before strikes from Willum Willumsson, Jay Stansfield and Krystian Bielik turned the tide.

Ahead of a week which also sees the two sides face off in an important league fixture in PE2 on Tuesday night, Fry has delivered praise to Ferguson for taking the Cambridgeshire outfit to Wembley for a third time in 11 years, with a final which has his name well and truly engraved within the script taking over a potential third 'Hollywood Derby' of the campaign between Blues and Wrexham.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said.

“I love getting to Wembley and Darren Ferguson has achieved a miracle to get us to Wembley three times. We’ve already won two so I’d love to get the hat-trick.

Fry claimed: “They all thought they were going to have the American Dream final at Wembley – so I’m delighted I spoilt that party!”

“I think we will play football, I think we will surprise Birmingham with our pace on a big pitch," he continued.

"I think it will be a cracking final. They will be odds-on favourites, by a mile, they spent £15m on one player and have 29,000 every other week. They could have sold 60 or 70,000 tickets alone."

“Thirty years ago when I won the trophy for Birmingham City, we had a crowd of 78,000 and 57,000 were Bluenoses," the former Blues boss and Peterborough figure concluded.

Birmingham City will not take Peterborough United lightly at Wembley

Whilst plenty of discourse ahead of the final has surrounded Fry's affinity with both clubs and Birmingham's mass following of 43,356, amid clamour for more tickets to be placed on sale and subsequent warnings being issued by the West Midlands club, we are set for an enthralling encounter to play out.

Posh's season has been littered with inconsistency, and one which not many outsiders would have predicted despite losing the likes of Burrows, Ephron Mason-Clark and Josh Knight among others in the summer. But, Ferguson's side have proven a match for plenty of the division's promotion hopefuls as they look to mathematically secure safety in the final weeks of the campaign.

Wrexham can definitely attest to the fighting spirit within the camp, having seen 'Boro come from 2-0 down to eventually emerge victorious on penalties in the semi-finals, whilst they have also recorded victories over Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic and taken a point off Wycombe.

On the other hand, Birmingham are looking to emulate the achievements of Fry's side 30 years ago, if they are to emerge victorious against Barnsley at St Andrew's. They could also have the league title sealed inbetween their two meetings against Posh if certain permutations play out, which would lead to an even greater party atmosphere at Wembley.

Regardless, it is shaping up to be a fascinating week for the two sides, and Fry will hope it ends in celebrations for his club, regardless of any sentiment towards the favourites.