‘Dubious’… Gary Caldwell bemoans one crucial referee decision that went in Wrexham’s favour in Exeter City win

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Wrexham continued their push for automatic promotion to the Championship with a third win on the spin at the weekend.

Phil Parkinson’s side put in yet another solid and professional performance at St James Park on Saturday to secure a vital 2-0 win over Exeter City.

Goals from Ollie Rathbone and Jay Rodriguez – his second since joining Wrexham – were enough to secure the three points, and ensure that the Welsh outfit remain in second place in the League One table, three points clear of closest rivals Wycombe Wanderers.

For the second week in a row, controversy surrounded Rodriguez’s goal however. Just as Stockport County’s Dave Challinor bemoaned the decision to award a penalty to Wrexham in Parkinson’s side’s 1-0 on March 22, Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was similarly bemused by a penalty given at St James Park when Jack McMilan tripped up Rodriguez in the box.

Gary Caldwell calls Wrexham penalty decision ‘dubious’

Speaking to the club’s official press after the game, Exeter manager Caldwell was keen point out that the penalty decision, made on the hour mark, sealed his team’s fate in what had been a closely fought game.

“I thought we were in the game, but I just need more commitment from the players, I need more second actions, I need that last yard to be better,” said Caldwell.

“We’re disappointed to lose, of course, but it’s a deflected shot in the first half and a dubious penalty at best. I thought we did everything we asked was there early on but we didn’t do it enough and there wasn’t enough desire or intent to go past people, to shoot.

“The players gave everything, but it’s the final actions today.”

The defeat to Wrexham brought to an end what had been an incredibly positive run of results for Exeter. Caldwell’s side had been enjoying a six-game unbeaten run until Wrexham came to town.

Phil Parkinson hails ‘mindset’ changes made by Wrexham in win

Wrexham boss Parkinson, in his post match interview, revealed how his team respected Exeter’s recent form and made a few key tweaks to combat their strengths – particularly from set pieces – revealing:

“We understood what Exeter are – on a good run, very strong at set plays – and we’d worked on that, but we defended those situations very well, which gave us a platform to win the game.

“We got the first goal with a good move even if it was deflected, and it was great to get the cushion of the second goal to kill it off like we’re capable of.”

The win gives Wrexham a great platform to secure automatic promotion heading into the final seven games of the 2024/25 League One season. The Welsh outfit are currently three points clear in second place, however Wycombe have a game in hand in which they are set to play Huddersfield Town – who dropped down to seventh in the table thanks to a 4-0 defeat to Charlton.

Despite that game in hand, a supercomputer has predicted that Wrexham will narrowly beat out Wycombe to second place in the standings.