Welcome to Wrexham…Weekly—a weekly dose of the Welsh club that has a unique connection to Philadelphia, even though it’s over 3,000 miles away. Whether you’re a local Red Dragons supporter or an intrigued observer, this is the place for you.

Now, let’s get into it.

League Two Table

Wrexham news and highlights

• Prince William made a stop by the Racecourse on Friday but not before heading to The Turf—the ground’s corner pub—for a pint and a shot with Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney.
• Wrexham AFC Women defeated The New Saints FC Women 1-0 to secure a spot in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final.

Feature of the week: Wrexham controls League Two title destiny 

The past week was a tale of two matches for third-place Wrexham. Heading into the final 11 matches of the season—at a much more comfortable frequency—the squad is all but guaranteed to be fighting for a promotion spot, whether by securing an automatic advancement in the top three or fighting for the final spot via a playoff.

Now it’s just a matter of how much they want it and whether can they find the right combination of pieces to make it happen.

Feeling blue at Forest Green

Tuesday’s match against relegation zone Forest Green saw the Red Dragons escape with only a point—despite 75% possession—after a reckless two-footed challenge on Wrexham striker Paul Mullin resulted in a penalty. Mullin netted the game-tying goal on his penalty kick in the 93rd minute.

Despite the stolen point, it was the same old story for a Wrexham squad that has been abysmal away from home this campaign. As they often do on the road, the team looked devoid of ideas and disorganized in the final third. 

It’s always sunny at the Racecourse

If Tuesday’s results and temporary slip to fourth in the League Two table had Wrexham fans stressing, Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Accrington Stanley—who sacked their manager, John Coleman, after the match—erased any concerns. 

With McElhenney in attendance, Mullin secured a hat trick by the 35th minute as the Red Dragons had their three points locked up by the halftime whistle. 

Mullin needed the performance as much as anyone. Before his late goal against Forest Green, the striker had gone eight matches without hitting the back of the net. There’s no better way to shake off the rust and build confidence in the final stretch of the season than four goals in less than 40 minutes of match time.

Phil Parkinson silenced the doubters

The Wrexham manager had come under mild criticism heading into the Accrington match, after securing only eight points from seven matches in February. After injuries to vital defensive midfielders George Evans and Thomas O’Connor, Wrexham seemed to have little answer on how to adapt. 

Parkinson stuck by his 5-3-2 formation, brushing off calls from some fans and pundits to shift to a 4-3-3.

But things turned around on Saturday. 

Giving Ollie Palmer his first start in three months paid off, as the striker won three aerial duels, five ground duels, and two tackles—helping to create space for Mullin and allowing him to find the back of the net three times.

Additionally, Jacob Mendy started at left wing back and put in a season-defining performance. 

Inching closer to promotion

As demonstrated during Saturday’s 4-0 blowout, Wrexham might just be one of the top squads in League Two. At times, however, that strong squad has masked tactical shortcomings and a near-inability to find an ideal starting XI. 

With just 11 matches remaining, it isn’t easy to pinpoint who the top XI is, especially at the striker and defensive positions. While any team would certainly love to be faced with such a dilemma, it’s not a guaranteed recipe for success, as exemplified in Wrexham’s lackluster February performance and their abysmal away sheet. If anything, it’s produced a team that is too often out of sync with itself.

What the Accrington match gave this squad was something more important than three points, it was a confidence builder at the right moment in the campaign. A team performance that highlighted the success they can have when all pieces are working in lockstep with one another.

With six matches remaining at the Racecourse—where Wrexham has claimed 41 points of a possible 51—and five remaining on the road, how they respond after this weekend’s match is vital. 

We’ve seen two sides to Wrexham this campaign, can they put February behind them and claim not just a second-straight promotion but a league title in the process? They certainly have the talent but ultimately it’ll come down to which Wrexham decides to show up in March and April.

What’s ahead for Wrexham

After a grueling February schedule, the Red Dragons return to a more manageable schedule with a full week to build on their last victory, heading on the road Saturday to face ninth-ranked Morecambe. 

Then, it’s back home on Tuesday, March 12, for a match against 13th-ranked Harrogate Town.