Why Wrexham Could Make a Push For The Automatic Promotion Places In League Two – Opinion
Wrexham was touted as the team to watch in League Two when Phil Parkinson’s men achieved promotion to the English Football League, having spent a decade and a half in the National League.
They have proven to be the side to watch everywhere given the multiple television shows and documentaries, but only now does it seem like they are living up to their pre-season hype on the field
Wrexham Still In Spotlight
You cannot look past how Wrexham have gotten to where they are now. The Hollywood backing brought in some big-money sponsors and galvanised a town that had been in a football slumber for too long.
Like the story or loathe it, the attention it has given to the non-league scene and now League Two does lend itself to some of the spotlight being shone wider. Of course, this is not Wrexham’s concern, but the benefit of having them in the league will be felt by others. Their aim, though, is not to be in the lower tier of the EFL for very long.
Having started the season with a shock to the system in a 5-3 loss to relegated MK Dons, it may have seemed that the gulf was too big, or at least bigger than anticipated.
However, let’s give credit to Phil Parkinson’s team as they have slowly adapted to the way the league plays its football, and after some eye-opening scores, a 4-2 win at home to Walsall was followed up with a 5-5 draw against Swindon Town which ultimately led to veteran goalkeeper Ben Foster stepping away from the game.
The 14 goals conceded in those three games have been followed up by dropping just four in total across all competitions since. A stiffening up in defence has led to an unbeaten run dating back to that opening-day defeat which is something more in tune with what the pundits were expecting. This has resulted in a very quick rise up the table to fourth place.
Striker’s welcome return
This weekend they are away at another fancied side, Stockport County, who are enjoying a mini-revival of their own, having won two games on their travels in recent weeks. This will be a good test for Wrexham. The Reds have also seen the return of Paul Mullin. Their talismanic striker of recent seasons punctured a lung in the much-publicised trip to the United States in the final stages of pre-season.
Should Mullin make the squad for the trip against Stockport, and indeed play, it will be his 100th appearance. The 28-year-old’s return has been welcomed, and of course, these early game minutes will be carefully monitored. Wrexham had no need to rush his return as the goals are flowing freely, 20 so far in the league.
Having made his return two games ago coming off the bench against Doncaster, he started last week in the 3-0 win over Grimsby Town before being subbed off after 73 minutes. Should he score on the landmark appearance, it will complete a remarkable sequence of scoring on his first, 25th, 50th, and 75th games played for the Welsh side.
Writer’s View
Paul Mullin will score goals. That is a fact. Even if not as many as he plundered during the club’s rise in the National League, the contribution he will make to Wrexham will help their chances of promotion.
As stated, they are already scoring lots of goals, but as the season looks to settle, the high-scoring games will be few and far between and this will allow Mullin to settle back into the side and make his mark. This could mean that, as expected, Wrexham start to move through the gears and make a permanent move into the automatic promotion places.
