Wrexham proved their title credentials over the weekend. Their game at Meadow Lane had been eagerly anticipated, as both they and Notts County locked horns again after their titanic National League title race last season.
County has settled into life in League Two quicker than The Reds, but the 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer in the space of five minutes, settled the game, and put both clubs on 30 points as they both attempt to chase down Stockport County at the top.
Defensive Resilience
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 gameplan 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.
https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC/status/1718356964156273071
“It is hard to place 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 got 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 who you have battled hard against over the last couple of years, it is always a bit special. There is a 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 View
Wrexham are now on a run that has seen them climb into the top three, and the signs are ominous for the rest of the division. It was perhaps a welcome wake-up call that they didn’t hit the ground running and had a sticky start conceding so many goals. After their last league loss, a 5-0 thrashing by Stockport, they have gone eight games unbeaten, conceding just seven goals.
Parkinson knows this was a big result, and another marker set, Especially with the amount of players out, that will only strengthen his team on their return.
