Over the weekend, Wrexham demonstrated their title credentials. The highly anticipated Meadow Lane game between them and Notts County was a result of their intense rivalry following the thrilling National League pennant fight the previous season.
County has adapted to life in League Two more quickly than the Reds, but Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer’s goals in the final five minutes of play ended the match and put both teams on 30 points as they try to catch up to Stockport County at the top.
Defensive Hardiness
Manager Phil Parkinson went so far as to say that the game was one of the highlights of his time in charge. After suffering some injury setbacks and being forced into a completely rejigged defensive back line, it was always going to be a case of limiting the division’s top scorers and taking their own chances.
After the game, the happy gaffer was reported by The Leader, saying, “I think it is up there in terms of wins in my time as a manager at Wrexham because we had a lot of disruption this week. With everything in consideration and the players we had missing defensively, to come to a full-house like this against a really good side and come away with a win, I do feel it is right up there.
“We have lost Eoghan [O’Connell], we have lost Ryan [Barnett], Aaron [Hayden] is still injured, and we lost Jordan [Tunnicliffe] in the warm-up. To have all that disruption and still put in a performance like we did is enormous credit to the lads.”
The two teams were hotly tipped to be in the promotion mix after both amassing over 100 points last season, with Wrexham just getting the edge for the automatic place.
“Notts are a good side, but the way the lads implemented the game plan was outstanding, and it is a really important three points for us. I am just so pleased with the way the lads have gone about their business.
“It is hard to come, and with a lot of disruption going into the game, we could easily have had a dressing room full of excuse-makers, but there was none of that. It was a determination to implement what we worked on Thursday and Friday.”
With this rivalry renewed, Parkinson was pleased to have the upper hand again but is wary that it is still too early to talk promotion and knows that the Magpies will still be a threat.
“It is still early in the season, but when you come up against a team that you have battled hard against over the last couple of years, it is always a bit special. There is mutual respect between both clubs, both managers, and both sets of players because we have had some great games against them.
“We will look forward to the next one when they come to The Racecourse.”
Writer’s Opinion
The signals are dire for the remainder of the division, as Wrexham is currently on a run that has seen them move into the top three. Maybe it served as a good wake-up call because they struggled to get going and gave up a lot of goals early on. They have gone eight games without a loss and have only let up seven goals since their last league defeat, a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Stockport.
Given the number of players out, Parkinson is aware that this was a significant outcome and that another marker put in will only help his team when they return.
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