Phil Parkinson felt that his Wrexham side’s loss to Reading was “a missed opportunity” to gain an advantage in the League One promotion battle.
A positive result for The Red Dragons would have seen them overtake Wycombe Wanderers to claim the pivotal second automatic place in the third tier as both sides gear up to face each other at the weekend.
Parkinson Frustrated By Match
Noel Hunt’s Royals were a cut above their Welsh opponents for a majority of the match, claiming a commanding 2-0 lead in the opening minutes of the second half and despite late pushback from Wrexham, they could not crack the opposition defence in Berkshire.
Speaking to the media following the result, Parkinson admitted that this was a great chance for them to jump into second. (Quotes via BBC):
“It was a great opportunity and we haven’t taken it. That’s the harsh reality of it.
“Preparation was good, we came down here ready to give it our all and we came up short. We move on to Wycombe.
“Their second goal, the lad’s struck it brilliantly, but we can still do better. Obviously they got their tails up didn’t they and it was an extra energy about them which happens obviously when you get quickfire goals.
“We felt that if we’d have got one we’d get back into the game and we so nearly did. It just wasn’t to be.”
Writer’s View
The defeat for Wrexham now has them in a very precarious position for their promotion ambitions. Wycombe have a key advantage now heading into that showdown this weekend and with a game in hand, dropped points for Phil Parkinson’s side could be a death nail for their automatic hopes. With The Chairboys getting a rest over midweek, they will be prepared and fresh as they welcome Wrexham to Adams Park. Luckily, The Red Dragons have a strong squad depth and can rotate, but that comes with its own risks. This match will be the key fixture to look out for across the EFL this weekend.
