Wrexham

Ioan Griffiths

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Former Wales striker Malcolm Allen believes Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is "underachieving" this season.

Wrexham spent around £33m during the summer transfer window but sit 19th in the Championship table with 10 points from 10 games before hosting Oxford United on Wednesday tonight.

The Red Dragons are also winless in their last four in the league and are yet to pick up a victory at home this season, drawing three and losing two.

Oxford are one place behind Wrexham and Allen says the pressure is mounting on Parkinson.

Allen told the Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast: "I am willing to give him a chance but it's getting to crunch time. Oxford is a massive game.

"To me he is underachieving with his squad and all the money spent. Something has to change, the players are not going to change. So one person takes the blame.

"It won't happen tomorrow, but he has to be feeling the pressure on his shoulders now."

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Phil Parkinson feels Wrexham must focus on delivering a 90-minute performance against Oxford United rather than being fixated on securing their first home league win of the campaign.

The Red Dragons have drawn three and lost two of their five Championship fixtures at the Stok Cae Ras so far this term and saw their five-game run come to an end last time out as they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke City.

Tonight, they host an Oxford United side who ended their own three-match winless run by beating Derby County 1-0 on Saturday.

But Parkinson says when it comes to pursuing a victory over Gary Rowett's outfit his players must not deviate from the game plan as they did in their defeat by the Potters at the weekend.

"Whatever happened on Saturday [at Stoke], this was always going to be an important game," the Wrexham boss said.

"I don't want us to be too fixated on 'we have to get this home win'.

"We have to concentrate on the quality of the performance throughout the game and if we do that, it'll give us the best chance to get the result.

"It's about alleviating that fixation on the outcome and concentrating on what we've got to do to get there.

"We'll be speaking about that and pick the team and the bench that we feel has got the best chance to achieve that.

"There's a really good group of lads who care a lot. I just want us to have a real focus on the game plan and executing that across the 90 minutes."

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Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo feels he still has huge room for improvement after being given the chance to impress in the Championship as a result of Danny Ward's injury.

Having returned to his boyhood club in the summer following his release by Leicester City, Wales international Ward started the campaign as the club's first choice goalkeeper.

But Okonkwo has played every minute of league action since replacing Ward in a 2-0 win at Millwall in late August after the 32-year-old dislocated his elbow.

"It's been a really good experience for me," said Okonkwo, who was part of the Wrexham side that gained promotion from League Two and League One.

"I'm just taking it game by game and adapting as well, as well as everyone else is adapting.

"But I'm really enjoying it. I'm enjoying playing, I just want to improve in every game and take little bits from every game."

Okonkwo kept 19 clean sheets - the second most in the division - as Wrexham gained automatic promotion for a third year running last season.

And while he was left disappointed not to play from the outset this term, the 24-year-old says Wrexham's strength in depth means players have to be more patient for regular game time.

"You just have to stay focussed. It's a team full of quality players, not everyone's going to play, not everyone's going to start," added the former Arsenal academy keeper.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one that was frustrated at the beginning of the season when they didn't start.

"But it's all about staying focused and concentrated on the main goal which is performing when you get the opportunity.

"I'm happy with my performances and there's so much more to improve. I'm still adapting and I'm just hoping my performances can get better and better."

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Following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium, we asked fans if Wrexham's inability to get over the line in recent matches has been a cause for concern.

Here are some of the responses we received.

Andrew - Feel like we could and maybe should have taken five more points from the last three games, just haven't taken our sometimes glaring chances.

Bob - Events so far show Wrexham can avoid relegation. That's about all. So far I don't think anyone knows what their best line up is. Better figure it out soon plus a game plan with more than one dimension. Go get Mourinho!

Tony - Every game has been tight and the tide will turn, I've no doubt.

Andrew Lloyd-Green - Our league position reflects our overall performances so far, where we have been good in parts, yet missed several key goal scoring chances which would have turned a draw in to a win or a loss in to a draw - the margins are fine and we look a strong side that's competing. However, we do lack pace when we transition and counter attack and Kieffer Moore is isolated too often and I believe this stems from the formation we play. It's early days but between now and Christmas we need to more than double the points per game tally we've amassed so far as otherwise we will be in a relegation battle going in to the New Year.

Simon - Having spent £30m on the team you'd expect better, more consistent, performances. Getting rid of experienced proven goal scorers like [Paul] Mullin and [Ollie] Palmer before you're sure of the new players doesn't look like the best planning now. Mid table finish looks best we can hope for from the evidence so far. But the worst case scenario of relegation is still a possibility, unfortunately, unless they improve dramatically.

David - They are on a curve upward. You can see it in how they are playing. The incidents of costly mistakes is definitely going down. Just need to show more patience in the offensive end.

Andy - The lack of enterprise and pace on the wings at times is a bit concerning. The defence always feels a bit vulnerable too. But overall these lads have had hardly anytime together and things aren't bad, they're just not that great compared to the previous few years.

It's been over two decades since Oxford United last took victory over Wrexham but they will be looking to do when they visit the Stok Cae Ras on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

Both sides sit next to each other on the table in 18th and 19th position respectively, though Wrexham do have one more point than the U's.

However, the Red Dragons have yet to claim a victory on home soil in the Championship this season, and Oxford's visit see them coming off a high after a 1-0 win over Derby County on the weekend.

• This will be the first Football League meeting between Wrexham and Oxford United since a 1-1 draw in April 2006; the Welsh side are unbeaten in their last 12 such encounters (W9 D3) since a 0-2 defeat in March 1983.

• The last competitive meeting between Wrexham and Oxford United saw the U's win an FA Cup second round tie 2-1 in 2013-14.

• Wrexham remain winless at home in the Championship this season (P5 D3 L2) – their longest ever winless home start to a Football League campaign.

• Since the start of last season, the only ever-present side in England's top four tiers with fewer away league wins than Oxford United (3) are Southampton (2).

• Wrexham's Phil Parkinson has won five of his seven managerial league matches against Oxford United, although the exceptions were his last two at home, defeats with Bradford City (1-2 in 2013) and Bolton Wanderers (0-2 in 2016).

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson reflects on his side's 1-0 loss to Stoke City in the Championship.

Match report: Thomas ends Stoke's winless run at Wrexham's expense

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Dom Hyam admits Wrexham's contest with Oxford United is "huge" as they bid to show they can make their mark in the Championship by improving their home form.

The Red Dragons saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday as they went down 1-0 to promotion-chasing Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

They return to action against the Us in north Wales on Wednesday (19:45 BST) looking for a first home league victory of the season - with their only wins at the Stok Cae Ras this term coming against Hull City and Reading in the EFL Cup.

"It's huge. Every team that does well needs to be doing well at home," said summer signing Hyam.

"Yes, we've wanted more points at home so far. It's a long season but I think we've had some good performances against some top teams and we're working out the division. We're a new group but we remain positive.

"It's a disappointing result [at Stoke] but it's a big opportunity on Wednesday to try and get that first home win."

Oxford head to Wrexham having ended their three-game winless run in the Championship by beating Derby County 1-0 at the weekend.

After Saturday's 1-0 loss to Stoke City, Wrexham's winless run in the Championship stretched to four games.

The lines are thin, as had Ryan Longman not missed an open goal with the game still scoreless, it could have been a four game unbeaten run we would be talking about.

Is Wrexham's inability to get over the line in recent matches cause for concern?

Have your say here

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham have to look at themselves for defeat at Stoke City after blowing the "big moment" at bet365 Stadium.

The Wrexham boss insisted "desperation" saw them fail to find their way into the game as they lost for the first time in five Championship outings.

The Red Dragons – who had not been beaten on the road since the opening day of the season – went down 1-0 in the Potteries after Sorba Thomas' deflected effort proved the difference.

But the 36th minute cross that clipped the boot of Kieffer Moore only came after Wrexham's Ryan Longman had missed an open goal with the game still scoreless.

Stoke boss Mark Robins called the miss a "let-off", and Parkinson said: "We had some great moments and obviously didn't take them.

"The games are so tight at this level and it comes down to key moments in games; we had the key moments in the first period and we didn't take them and we got punished by a bit of slackness.

"If you freeze-frame it when Sorba Thomas has the ball and say that three seconds later, the ball's in the back of the net, you probably wouldn't have believed it.

"We should have dealt with it but I did think that if we kept playing the same way, more opportunities would come.

"But I felt we didn't show enough consistency in our quality and our decision making in that second period and it was costly for us."

Wrexham struggled after the break, despite a series of changes from Parkinson - including a return for full-back Libby Cacace in just his third appearance of the season.

But they failed to put pressure on Stoke, with Parkinson adding: "It didn't come from a bad place, it just came from a place of real determination to get back in the game but we forced it a little bit.

"I think it came from a bit of a feeling of desperation and just the final bit of calmness or composure of the quality of that pass went away from us."

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Steve Parkin believes his former club Stoke City will have "high hopes" of securing a return to the Premier League as Wrexham prepare to face the Potters at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Mark Robins' side have made an impressive start to their campaign and sit fifth in the early-season Championship table.

"It's a long time since I was there but they've always been a club that, certainly over the last 10 or 15 years, that have touched on Premier League and Championship high-end football," said Wrexham assistant boss Parkin.

"The owners have been incredible in the amount of money that they've put into the football club to try and strive to get them there (to the top flight).

"I know their training facilities are second to none so they will have high hopes of getting back into the Premier League I'm sure."

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Former defender Parkin spent six seasons with the Potters in the 1980s before spells with West Bromwich Albion and hometown club Mansfield Town.

And the 59-year-old is looking forward to being reunited with several faces from his past as Wrexham bid to extend their five-game unbeaten run.

"It'll be slightly different in terms of the ground, it was the Victoria Ground when I played there, which I've got a lot of fond memories of," added Parkin.

"I know a lot of people in and around the area and I've kept in touch with them.

"They're all getting on a bit now obviously seeing as it's 35 years ago [since I left Stoke], but some of them are still close friends.

"It'll be nice to go back and I'm hoping to bump into a few old faces."

Wrexham defender Max Cleworth looks forward to his side's Championship contest with Stoke City this weekend.

Image source, Opta

The international break is finally over and Stoke will seek to get back to winning ways when they welcome Wrexham to the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 BST).

After taking 12 points from their opening five matches to sit in the automatic promotion places, the Potters are winless in their past four, taking three points and scoring only twice in that run, to sit fifth.

Wrexham are 13 places behind them but only five points back in a congested table, having lost just one of their past seven games.

• This will be the first Football League meeting between Stoke City and Wrexham since a 1-0 win for the Potters in April 2002, with Andy Cooke scoring the winner in that third tier encounter.

• In the Football League, Wrexham have lost 11 of their 12 games against Stoke City, with their only win coming on the road in February 1999 (3-1).

• Stoke's 92% win ratio against Wrexham in the Football League (11 wins in 12 meetings) is the second-best of any side in Football League history against an opponent they've faced 10+ times – only Man Utd vs Wigan (94%, 15 wins in 16 games) have a better ratio.

• Wrexham have drawn each of their past three games 1-1, against Derby, Leicester and Birmingham. They last had a longer run of draws in the Football League in November/December 1999 (6 in a row).

• Stoke's Sorba Thomas has created the most chances in the Championship this season (25), also creating the most chances in open play (19). He's assisted four of Stoke's 11 league goals in 2025-26.

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Max Cleworth says he has been learning from summer signings Conor Coady and Dom Hyam in a bid to improve his own game.

Defender Cleworth, 23, played a part in each of Wrexham's three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship.

But now operating in the second tier for the first time in his career, Cleworth says the experiences of Coady and Hyam have been invaluable for his development.

"They've had some incredible experiences," Cleworth said of the pair.

"Dom has played in the Championship for years and it doesn't need saying with Conor who was in the England national team a few years ago.

The Cheshire-born defender pays close attention to what the experienced duo do in training and is also a keen listener.

"We have general chats and gain experiences that they've had and I try to take a bit of that into my own game," added Cleworth.

"I listen to them and things they say on the defensive side but also on the ball, they have different ideas that maybe they've seen at a higher level.

"But also listening to the experiences they've had and some of the games they've played in, they're bigger than ones I have so you've got to try and take little bits from them and try and add it to my own game."

Cleworth is one of just three players - alongside Lewis O'Brien and George Dobson - to play every single minute of league action under Phil Parkinson so far this season.

But the right centre-back admits it will be difficult to continue to start each game given the strength-in-depth of the current squad.

"It's nice to play all the games, but the squad is so good this year that people will be in and out of the team, that's the way football is," he added.

"It happened last year and it's happened in the years before - we can rotate the squad and I'm sure the gaffer will do that this year."

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Steve Parkin feels Wrexham have the squad to cope with a hectic schedule that sees them play seven matches in 22 days before the final international break of 2025.

The Red Dragons recruited 13 players over the summer and have shown a gradual improvement in the Championship having gone five games unbeaten ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City.

And assistant manager Parkin is confident that Phil Parkinson has sufficient depth within his ranks to cope with the demands of the schedule over the coming weeks.

"It's full on, it's the division that we've been striving to get into," Parkin said.

"It's a really busy three-and-a-half weeks, but we're delighted with that because we feel as though we've got the squad to handle it."

In an additional boost to Parkinson, Ollie Rathbone, George Thomason and Liberato Cacace are all closing in on returning to action following spells on the sidelines through injury.

And Parkin says the Wrexham squad benefitted from the October international camp as they go into their latest busy run.

"We mixed it up, we got some good training into the lads," Parkin said.

"We thought there were three or four that needed a bit of catch-up training, so we're pleased with that.

"Then we gave them a good breather as well, so we're ready to pick up our tools and start all over again.

"You can do blocks of training (during the international break) that you don't normally do. We did Monday, Tuesday then Wednesday which ordinarily in the season, you don't tend to do that.

"We could certainly get some hard training into them, and I think it's been beneficial."