Wrexham started 2025 with a defeat, losing 2-1 away at Barnsley on New Year’s Day as Phil Parkinson suffered more pain on the road.
Wrexham fans had reason to feel optimistic as 2025 began at Oakwell on Wednesday afternoon.
Home wins over Blackpool and Wigan Athletic had propelled Wrexham to second place in final League One table of 2024.
Away form has been a problem for Wrexham though and that was on show once again on New Year’s Day.
Phil Parkinson found himself 2-0 down at the break as former Wrexham man Davis Keillor-Dunn opened the scoring and Adam Phillips profited from some dire defending.
Max Cleworth pulled one back but it wasn’t enough for Wrexham to claim anything from the trip to South Yorkshire.
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Barnsley boss on Wrexham squad
Wrexham arguably did enough to take something from the game but Parkinson and co headed home empty-handed.
Ollie Palmer struggled and was substituted at half-time whilst Wrexham fans weren’t impressed with Eoghan O’Connell.
Parkinson will want to move on quickly from this latest away defeat with Wrexham back at home against Peterborough United this weekend.
Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke has offered his thoughts on the game and offered praise for Wrexham’s squad whilst speaking to the Yorkshire Post.
Clarke noted that Wrexham not only have a talented squad, but also a talented manager in Parkinson.
Clarke accepts that his Barnsley side were ‘hanging on’ in the second half but believes that is to be expected against such a strong Wrexham side.
The Tykes boss added that the second half was ‘a little bit uncomfortable’ as Wrexham pushed for goals, but was proud of how his side defended.
“In the first half, there were a couple of great strikes,” said Clarke.
“In the second half, we were hanging on there, but you’d expect that from a team who were on a long unbeaten run and not used to losing. They have a talented squad and manager.
“It was a little bit uncomfortable in the second half, if I am honest. We should have got more pressure at the top end of the pitch, but that enabled us to defend. And did we defend well…From the keeper through to all the boys in defending set-plays.
“It’s a real positive start to the new year with a home win. Probably the most pleasing aspect was the mentality of the boys. We had a lot of virus in the camp and players coming back from injury and having three games in six games is always intense around Christmas, especially when you have had two away games,” he added.
Barnsley captain on Wrexham
Wrexham’s unbeaten League One run has been ended at eight games and Barnsley captain Luca Connell has offered his view too.
Connell has told Barnsley’s official X account that he felt the Tykes were the better side in the first half.
Wrexham were more dangerous after the break and Connell gave credit to Parkinson’s side, but also hailed his teammates for digging in and securing the result.
Connell noted Wrexham’s experience and physicality, but talked of how Barnsley attempt to stop Wrexham going long into Palmer and Paul Mullin up top.
“It was exactly what we wanted,” said Connell.
“We stuck to the game plan, especially in the first half, and I think we were the better team but credit to Wrexham, they came on top in the second half but it showed our character… maybe in previous weeks and months, we probably could have maybe conceded two or three at the end but we held onto the points and that’s the main thing.
“They’re an experienced team, they’re a physical team and we knew that before so we wanted to get pressure on the ball so they can’t play it long, but the game plan doesn’t always go exactly how you need it to, like in the second, but credit to the back lads especially,” he added.
Starting 2025 with a defeat is not ideal for Wrexham but Parkinson will be keen to get to the bottom of these away day issues after another loss on the road.