Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham’s desperation for a first Championship home win has been their undoing this season.
The manager has urged his side to rediscover the defensive resilience that turned The Racecourse into a fortress during their remarkable rise through the leagues.
Home Struggles After Promotions
Wrexham have stormed through three successive promotions to return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years. That success was built on an exceptional home record, but life back in the Championship has proven tougher. Defeats to West Brom and Queens Park Rangers, alongside a frustrating 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday after leading 2-0 at half-time, have left Parkinson searching for answers.
The boss admitted his players’ eagerness to deliver a first home victory has at times taken them away from the structure that served them so well. Instead of staying compact, they have been chasing matches and conceding avoidable goals.
“We’ve almost got a desperation to go and win games,” Parkinson said. “That doesn’t come from a bad place, it comes from a team and a club who’s used to winning at home. But we’ve got to educate the group that we’ve won games from a really strong structure, and we just haven’t quite got that in place at home yet.”
Balancing Attack And Defence
Parkinson pointed to solid away displays, including a 2-0 victory at Millwall, as evidence that Wrexham can deliver results by sticking to their shape. He wants that approach transferred back to The Racecourse, where they have too often left themselves open. With four points from their opening five fixtures, Wrexham sit 21st in the table heading into a difficult trip to Norwich City this weekend.
The manager is also keen not to sacrifice the attacking threat that has seen his side score in every match so far. The challenge, he insists, is striking the right balance between creativity and defensive discipline.
“We’ve had periods where we’ve got the opposition exactly where we want them, and then we’ve conceded a goal out of nothing,” he explained. “We’re working to re-address that balance of trying to maintain the threat we have in the team whilst making sure that we’re harder to play against.”
After years of dominating at home, Parkinson knows the Championship presents a new level of challenge. His message to the players is clear: cut out the desperation, rebuild the structure, and make The Racecourse a difficult venue once again.
Writer’s View
Wrexham’s rise has been extraordinary, but the Championship demands pragmatism. Parkinson’s honesty highlights the adjustment needed as the club finds its footing in the second tier. Supporters will want home wins quickly, yet building solidity at The Racecourse must take priority if the Reds are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
With goals continuing to flow, the missing piece is consistency at the back, and addressing that could be the difference between survival and struggle.
