Wrexham remain focused on a trip to Wembley after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra at The Racecourse, thanks to Aaron James’ decisive header in the 79th minute.
While it wasn’t a polished performance, Phil Parkinson’s men did enough to progress to the last 16 of the competition they last won in 2005.
Playing in front of their home crowd after finishing top of their group, the Reds made wholesale changes to the side that secured a 1-0 league victory at Burton Albion on Saturday. Among the new faces was goalkeeper Brad Foster, making his debut as Wrexham deals with injuries to Callum Burton and Arthur Okonkwo.
Chances at Both Ends
Wrexham started brightly, with Anthony Forde’s early effort blocked and Mo Faal testing Crewe goalkeeper Filip Marschall. Crewe responded with dangerous chances of their own, but Foster shone on his debut, denying Kian Breckin’s volley and making a crucial stop against Fin Roberts.
The game saw a setback for Wrexham in the 32nd minute as midfielder James Jones, recently back from injury, had to be replaced by Andy Cannon. Crewe continued to press, with Adrien Thibaut and Roberts combining to trouble the Reds’ defence, but Foster remained resolute.
Wrexham’s best first-half opportunity came when Josh Adam volleyed narrowly wide from Forde’s cross, leaving the sides level at the break.
James Rises to the Occasion
The second half began with Crewe maintaining their attacking intent, but Foster was again up to the challenge, making fine saves to deny Roberts and Matus Holicek. Wrexham created chances of their own, with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson firing over from a Jacob Mendy delivery.
The breakthrough came in the 79th minute. After Crewe cleared a corner, Wrexham regained possession, and Paul Mullin delivered a perfect cross from a subsequent corner for James to rise above the defence and nod home the decisive goal.
Crewe pushed for an equaliser, but Wrexham’s defence held firm, securing a spot in the next round and extending their unbeaten run across all competitions.
Writer’s View
While not Wrexham’s most convincing display, this result underlines the team’s resilience and ability to grind out wins. Foster’s impressive debut was pivotal, and Aaron James’ late goal reflects the Reds’ knack for capitalising on key moments. With a balanced squad showing depth and determination, Wrexham’s focus now shifts back to league action against Cambridge United this Saturday. Fans will hope this momentum carries through both in the league and the EFL Trophy.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
