Wrexham

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After a tough start to the season, Wrexham have found their feet in the Championship.

Phil Parkinson's side are unbeaten in eight league games, with Saturday's 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers the latest.

The run of form has seen Wrexham climb to ninth in the Championship, three points outside the play-off places.

Next up for Wrexham is a trip to Preston North End, who currently sit fifth in the play-offs.

With Wrexham in such good form, is a play-off finish possible this season?

Have your say here!

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Phil Parkinson was pleased with the balance of his Wrexham side as they extended their unbeaten run after the final international break of 2025.

The Red Dragons claimed five points from the nine on offer from their Championship fixtures with Ipswich Town, Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers - with the trio of matches being played in just eight days.

"I think when you have the three games in the eight days like that, we've just got to get the balance right because the next week we go into another great run," Parkinson said.

"But it's been enjoyable this week, we've really enjoyed it. They've all been different types of games.

"The Ipswich game, we came up against a really good football team, we had to be so disciplined.

"Bristol City was kind of a mixture really in the way they played and it became a really good football game and today against a counter-attacking team (Blackburn) who sat off the ball and let us have it and we had to find an answer.

"I felt the subs came on, I've also got to mention Callum Doyle because I thought he was brilliant when he came on, we needed that kind of impetus from that side to step through with the ball and I thought he made a big difference."

Wrexham's 1-1 draw with Blackburn saw them concede a goal for the first time in 375 minutes in the Championship.

It brought an end to their impressive run of keeping four successive league clean sheets - their joint-best sequence under Parkinson.

But the Wrexham boss was pleased with the response to Andri Gudjohnsen's opener as Max Cleworth netted in added time to salvage a point for the home side at the Stok Cae Ras.

"You've got to be careful when we haven't conceded for a while, we haven't been behind for a while," he added.

"We said to the dressing room, 'lads, come on, it's just football, teams are allowed to score, we'd like to not concede again this season, but it's going to happen'.

"The lads responded really well. It's never easy against a team like the way they were set up today, they've a real work ethic in the side and that's why they've got points on their travels. But we'll take the point."

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Phil Parkinson believes the fact Wrexham will have "mixed emotions" after their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers proves how much progress they have made in the Championship.

Max Cleworth got the slightest of touches on Nathan Broadhead's strike to divert the ball into the net in added time as the Red Dragons claimed a point after Andri Gudjohnsen had given Rovers an early lead.

The draw extended Wrexham's unbeaten league run to eight matches and sees them sit ninth in the table - a significant turnaround after a tough start to life in the second tier.

"I think it'll be mixed emotions," said Parkinson.

"We're pleased with the run we're on, we'd love for it to have been three points but sometimes you've got to accept that the positives of the day were that the new lads have come in and had a great taste of us going to the end in games.

"Time and time again here (at the Stok Cae Ras) we've got late winners, we've got late equalisers and it's so important that we keep that belief and drive to the very last kick of the game."

When asked if the potential disappointment of not beating Valerien Ismael's side serves as proof that Wrexham are improving, Parkinson responded: "Yeah, definitely.

"We can have a good look at the game today and what we could have done better and reflect on that and what we did well like we always do.

"But I feel we are building as a team, I really do feel that, and there's some good things for us today.

"Broady [Nathan Broadhead] getting 90 minutes, Kieffer [Moore], in fairness to the big fella, he's had an injury, he's trained for two days, played nearly 80 minutes on Wednesday and then he's gone the full 90 today.

"So hopefully everyone's come through unscathed and we can have a bit of time this week to get everyone on the training pitch and have a good build-up towards Preston."

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Dom Hyam hopes to wear the captain's armband more regularly at Wrexham but admits the Championship club are blessed with leaders.

The centre-back led his side in five successive matches before James McClean wore the armband for Wrexham's past two fixtures against Ipswich Town and Bristol City.

"We're lucky, we've got a team and a squad that I think you could name eight, nine or 10 captains," Hyam told BBC Sport Wales.

"There's a lot of experience there and it's a good thing to know that when you're having a tough time in a game or something's not going too well, you can look to your right or your left and you can see real leaders and experienced pros.

"It's obviously a credit to the recruitment team in creating a good, experienced team here.

"So it's something that I've been really proud to do and hopefully I can do it again at some point in the future."

Having been an unused substitute against Queens Park Rangers in his first match after joining Wrexham on transfer deadline day, Hyam has gone on to start 11 consecutive league games for the Red Dragons.

The Scotland international has been a pivotal figure in Wrexham's defensive improvement and will look to help his side keep a fifth consecutive league clean sheet when Phil Parkinson's men host Hyam's former club Blackburn Rovers at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"It is a big occasion for me personally, but at the end of the day it's another game I want to win," added the defender.

"I know a lot of the players there and a lot of the management staff, so it'll be an interesting one."

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Former Newport County head coach Dave Hughes says the job Phil Parkinson has done at Wrexham has been "unbelievable".

The 57-year-old has guided the Red Dragons to three successive promotions from the National League under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

A 2-0 victory over Bristol City at the Stok Cae Ras on Wednesday night lifted Wrexham up to 10th in the Championship table - with Parkinson's men sitting just two points adrift of the league's top six.

And Wrexham fan Hughes heaped praise on Parkinson for the job he has done since taking charge in north Wales in the summer of 2021.

"They've recruited well and they've got real clarity," Hughes told the Feast of Football podcast.

"From the outside looking in, they've kept a real core of good professionals around it as they've come up through the leagues and they've added to it.

"You look at the league table, to be where they are, I think it's an incredible achievement and the manager deserves every bit of praise he gets because what he's done for that club is unbelievable."

Wrexham head into their Championship contest with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (15:00 GMT) having won four successive league matches at home.

They have also kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Championship to extend their unbeaten league run to seven games.

The manner of their resurgence since what was a testing start to life in the second tier has led former Wales striker Iwan Roberts to believing that Wrexham are serious contenders to secure a play-off place this season.

"They are where I thought they would be and I thought they should be with the money they've spent and the recruitment they did in the summer," Roberts told the Feast of Football podcast.

"Recruitment is key, and I don't think Phil is one of these head coaches who is obsessed with having 65% to 70% possession, he just wants to win games.

"They're the only team that have beaten Coventry this season, they're two points off the play-offs and honestly, I think they've got a great chance of top six."

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Wrexham could climb into the play-off places when they welcome Blackburn to the Stok Cae Ras on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Phil Parkinson's men have won four straight home games, keeping three clean sheets, and Wednesday's 2-0 win over Bristol City made it seven unbeaten and took the Red Dragons into 10th, just two points outside the top-six.

Rovers were stung by a late 1-0 defeat at home to QPR on the same night and lie 18th, just four points clear of the relegation zone, but head to Wales seeking a fourth straight away win and sixth of the campaign.

• This is the first league meeting between Wrexham and Blackburn Rovers since March 1982, with the Welsh side winning 1-0 at home in the second tier.

• Blackburn Rovers have won just one of their past 13 Football League games against Wrexham, though nine of those games have been drawn (L3).

• Blackburn have lost seven of their past 10 league games against newly-promoted sides (W3) and 14 of their last 15 on the road (D1).

• Wrexham are unbeaten in their past three weekend league matches (W1 D2), keeping a clean sheet in the last two (1-0 v Charlton and 0-0 v Ipswich). They had only kept one clean sheet in their first nine weekend games in the Championship this season beforehand.

• Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has lost both his previous league meetings with Blackburn, coming during his time in charge of Bolton Wanderers in 2018-19.

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Boss Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham have rediscovered their best intensity levels at home having extended their winning Championship run at the Stok Cae Ras to four matches.

The Red Dragons beat Bristol City 2-0 in north Wales on Wednesday night to move within two points of the play-off places, having extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven games.

"It's brilliant. That's what it's all about," Parkinson said when asked about fans getting excited of late.

"I feel like in the last four games, and a bit prior to that, I think the Derby game as well, the intensity in the ground is where it has been for the last four years.

"We want to keep it there, but that will only happen if they see us on the front foot, the pressing and the energy the lads showed tonight."

Wrexham bid to continue their impressive run of form when they return to action against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Speaking after his side's win against Bristol City, Parkinson said he would enjoy a pint with members of his coaching staff while making preparations for the contest with Valerien Ismael's side.

"It's set up nicely and now me, Steve [Parkin, assistant manager], Aidan [Davison, goalkeeper coach] and Jonah [David Jones, first team coach] will go for a pint somewhere later on tonight and we start concentrating on what we've got to do and picking the team we feel is right to go and get another result," said Parkinson.

Phil Parkinson says the presence of Nathan Broadhead and Josh Windass in his squad gives Wrexham "another dimension".

Parkinson's side continued their fine form by beating Bristol City on Wednesday, with Broadhead scoring a spectacular goal in the 2-0 victory.

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Craig Knight has returned to Wrexham to take up the role of professional development phase lead coach with the Championship club from north Wales.

Uefa pro licence holder Knight spent a decade with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) but started his playing career in Wrexham's academy.

He went on to land a youth coaching role with the Red Dragons before joining the FAW in 2015.

Wrexham say Knight will now be responsible for "leading the training and games programme for our under-18 side and helping the transition of academy players into the first team".

Newly-appointed academy manager Gus Williams said: "The tremendous addition of an accomplished coach like Craig Knight demonstrates the serious intent the club and academy have in moving our ambitions forward.

"As a highly-experienced pro licensed coach who qualified for the U17 Uefa Euro finals back-to-back with Cymru, it's fantastic to welcome Craig back home to the Stok Cae Ras."

Knight said: "Wrexham has always been a special place to me having been a fan and a player.

"It has been fantastic to see the team's journey in recent years and the effect it has had locally and beyond.

"I believe that there are even greater things to come and it's a privilege to be back here at this pivotal moment for the club and the academy."

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Waynne Phillips believes Wrexham's start in their 2-0 victory over Bristol City was as well as the club have played from the outset of a match this season.

The Red Dragons enjoyed plenty of possession early on and took the lead in spectacular fashion as Nathan Broadhead curled beyond Radek Vitek in the 16th minute.

The Robins had an improved spell late on in the opening half at the Stok Cae Ras, although the game was put beyond them when goalkeeper Vitek inadvertently turned George Thomason's corner into his own net on 74 minutes.

And ex-Wrexham midfielder Phillips believes his former club were fully worth the three points against Gerhard Struber's outfit.

"I think they deserved the victory against Bristol City," Phillips told BBC Radio Cymru.

"The first half, especially the first 36 minutes, was very good, as good as we've seen here this season.

"When you aren't conceding goals, you've always got a great chance of going on to win matches.

"Everyone's leaving the Stok Cae Ras very happy once again."

Image source, Rex Features

Matty James feels his previous club Bristol City are close to achieving something special as he prepares to be reunited with the Robins.

The midfielder will line up against his former employers when Wrexham host Gerhard Struber's side at the Stok Cae Ras tonight (19:45 GMT).

The Robins sit sixth in the table and are seeking to improve on their achievement of reaching the play-offs last season.

When asked if Bristol City are on the cusp of something special, James said: "Yeah, I think so.

"I think the city's kind of ready, they've got a really good training ground, they've expanded the stadium, they're packing it out every week and they've invested into some good, talented players.

"They've built over the last couple of years, so I think that's probably going to be their aim (promotion) as well.

"So they're not going to come here and be pushed over. They're going to come here for a battle and obviously we'll make sure that we're ready."

Wrexham have won three successive home league matches and are unbeaten in six league outings, sitting 15th in the table ahead of their contest with Bristol City.

Following a slow start to the season at the Stok Cae Ras, James feels Wrexham are making their home ground a tough place to visit again.

"I think everybody was desperate for that first home win at the start and I think we probably deserved more out of a couple of the games, but I think now hopefully we can make this place a really difficult place for teams to come," he added.

"It's going to be a difficult game again, but hopefully we can come up with the three points."

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Phil Parkinson says he "can't wait" for Wrexham's home double header this week on the back of their draw with Ipswich Town last time out.

The Red Dragons extended their unbeaten Championship run to six matches thanks to the stalemate at Portman Road.

They return to action against Bristol City at Stok Cae Ras on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT) before hosting Blackburn Rovers in north Wales three days later.

Having failed to win any of their opening five home league games of the season, Wrexham go into the contest against the Robins having won three in a row in the Championship on their own patch.

"I can't wait. The last game against Charlton, the atmosphere was brilliant. As I said after the game, that's key for us here," said the Wrexham boss.

"There's a reason that this place has been difficult for the opposition to play and our lads have loved playing here. We've got to really crank the atmosphere up tomorrow."

Despite sitting 14th in the table, Wrexham are just three points adrift of the play-off places and Parkinson feels the league is wide open this term.

"I think the division is so tight, isn't it?" he said. "I think everybody in every interview is saying the same.

"Coventry have pulled away at the top and there's Sheffield Wednesday with the points deduction at the bottom, but the rest of the division is very tight and that's what makes it such a great spectacle.

"The games are very competitive, no quarter given at all, and everybody can beat anyone on the day.

"It's a great week for us. It started off well at Ipswich.

"I was pleased with physically how we looked coming on the back of the international break, and now we look to build on that tomorrow."

Wrexham will look to continue their undefeated run as they host Bristol City on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

The Red Dragons have not conceded defeat in any of their past six league games to see them within three points of the play-off spots.

However, they next face a tough opponent in Bristol City, who ended a three game winless run on the weekend to lift themselves into fourth place on the table.

• Wrexham are winless in their last 11 league games against Bristol City (D2 L9), with this the first meeting between the sides since April 2005.

• Bristol City failed to win any of their first seven away league games against Wrexham between 1962 and 1997 (D2 L5) but won four of their five visits between 2000 and 2004 (D1).

• Having been winless in their first five home league games this season (D3 L2), Wrexham have now won each of their last three at STōK Cae Ras.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their seven away league games this season (W3 D3), with that 5-1 defeat at Stoke responsible for 63% of their away goals conceded this term (5/8).

• Wrexham's Kieffer Moore has been involved in seven goals in his last seven home league games, scoring six and assisting one.

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Phil Parkinson says Arthur Okonkwo is at the "top of his game" after the goalkeeper played a pivotal role in earning Wrexham a point at Ipswich Town.

The 24-year-old produced a number of key saves at Portman Road - most notably to deny Chuba Akpom - as the Red Dragons held the Tractor Boys to a goalless draw.

It was the goalkeeper's third successive clean sheet - which saw Wrexham extend their unbeaten Championship run to six matches.

"Arthur's a goalkeeper who is right at the top of his game," Parkinson said.

"The players in front of him I thought were really good today.

"I think it's great for Arthur because we've spoken about bringing a lot of players in this season, which we have.

"Arthur has grown into the division and he's getting more and more confident by the week.

"It's very rewarding for all of the staff to see a player who has been up through the divisions who is now performing so well, like Max [Cleworth], at Championship level."

Wrexham failed to register a single short on target against Ipswich and had just four touches of the ball in the Ipswich box.

But Parkinson was thrilled with his side's defensive showing against a side that competed in the Premier League last season.

"It's a great effort from the lads," added the Wrexham manager.

"These are a team who have really got themselves going recently. They've got £100m of talent out there.

"We've come here today with a few injury problems, but we haven't used it as an excuse.

"We've worked really hard on the training ground to make sure you wouldn't notice, we came here with a few key players missing.

"The way we stuck to our job in terms of the discipline, the shape of the team and the general work ethic was really good today.

"A point away at Portman Road is one to be proud of."

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Phil Parkinson feels Ipswich Town are among the favourites to challenge for promotion this season as Wrexham return to Championship action against the Tractor Boys this afternoon (15:00 GMT).

Kieran McKenna's side go into the match at Portman Road having claimed 10 points from the last 12 on offer prior to the international break to sit two points above Wrexham.

But the Red Dragons head to Suffolk unbeaten in five league outings, with Parkinson stating his side travel to Ipswich buoyed by their own recent run.

"They're carrying a lot of Premier League standard players," the Wrexham manager told BBC Sport Wales.

"They're a good team, they've changed the squad around to a certain degree in the summer and of course they're one of the favourites to be up there.

"But we're on a good run ourselves and we go down there very confident and look forward to the challenge which Ipswich present."

Following a hectic run of seven matches in 22 days, Wrexham utilised the final international break of 2025 to get as many players as close to peak condition as possible.

And while Parkinson has been pleased with his side's improvement since the start of the campaign, the 57-year-old stated his team can still get better.

"It (international break) gave us a good opportunity as a staff to go back over the games we've had and look at all aspects of the team," added Parkinson.

"You're constantly working as a management team because you're always thinking 'how do we keep improving?'.

"It's given us a good chance to reflect and keep building on what we've done.

"We know there's a lot of work to be done in terms of improvement in the side, individually and collectively, but I feel we're getting to where we need to be."