Wrexham produced a battling away performance on Tuesday night, beating fellow promotion-chasers Huddersfield Town 1-0 away from home.
We predicted few goals between Huddersfield Town and Wrexham, and it turns out that just one was needed.
Substitute Steven Fletcher came off the bench to score the winner – something we have said many times this season.
The Scot bundled home from close range to send the travelling Wrexham fans barmy behind the goal.
Huddersfield defenders appealed for offside but the flag didn’t come, handing Wrexham a 1-0 lead – and Phil Parkinson’s side saw the game out brilliantly.
Here are five talking points as Wrexham pick up a huge victory on the road…
Steven Fletcher proves Phil Parkinson right again
Parkinson has an embarrassment of riches in the final third but stuck with Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez in attack against Huddersfield.
Neither found the net again though as it was substitute Steven Fletcher who came up with the winner.
Fletcher’s scrappy goal won’t win any Goal of the Season awards but the Scot again showed why Parkinson likes him off the bench.
Earlier this season, Parkinson admitted loving Fletcher’s substitute role, believing that he was a huge threat when coming on.
The striker turns 38 this month and is certainly coming towards the end of his career, but his quality in front of goal is still huge.
Fletcher has made a habit of scoring late goals as a substitute this season and he proved Parkinson’s theory right once again.
Midfield concerns grow
Andy Cannon’s season-ending injury has been a big blow for Wrexham and Elliot Lee is only just returning from the bench right now.
Parkinson therefore decided to go with the same midfield as Saturday’s draw with Bolton Wanderers – George Dobson, Matty James and Ollie Rathbone.
That midfield setup was solid but not particularly progressive, hampering Wrexham’s build-up play through the middle of the pitch.
Wrexham end up becoming rather one-dimensional in terms of funnelling the ball wide and crossing into the box.
James and Dobson are both quality players in their own right, but they both ideally want to play as the holding midfielder in a three-man engine room.
Playing both just hasn’t worked on too many occasions now and Tuesday was another example.
We understand the limitations for Parkinson’s engine room right now in terms of recent injuries but once Lee is up to speed, we wouldn’t want to see this midfield trio on a regular basis.
Away form comes out of nowhere
Wrexham fans will be asking just where this run of away results has come from.
The away day struggles had been a major problem for Wrexham, summed up by the 2-1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town in January.
Since that torrid defeat, Wrexham have now won four away League One games in a row.
Crawley Town, Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and now Huddersfield Town have all been seen off.
Wrexham have gone from looking so unconvincing on the road to becoming a winning machine away from home.
Strangely enough, Wrexham are now struggling for wins at home – something Parkinson certainly won’t be familiar with having been dominant at the STōK Cae Ras throughout his reign.
If Parkinson can sort out the home form and keep this away run going, Wrexham would be unlucky to miss out on automatic promotion.
Wrexham pull away from Huddersfield Town
This game was a huge one for Wrexham with a win needed after Saturday’s draw against Bolton.
Losing on Tuesday night would have left Huddersfield just one point behind Wrexham in the race for promotion.
Instead, Wrexham grabbed the victory and have now pulled seven points clear of Huddersfield.
That doesn’t completely rule Huddersfield out of contention but it certainly pushes them a long way away – especially with three clubs between themselves and Wycombe Wanderers.
The result means Huddersfield are now looking nervously over their shoulder with Bolton Wanderers, Reading and Leyton Orient behind them.
That sums up the importance of this result for Wrexham, strengthening the push for promotion whilst pushing a rival down.
Wrexham keep pace with Wycombe Wanderers
Wrexham headed on the road to Yorkshire whilst knowing that Wycombe Wanderers had a favourable home game against Burton Albion.
The Brewers are fighting for their lives right now and Wycombe were heavy favourites heading into the game.
Wycombe got the job done, beating Burton 2-0 at home to maintain their position in second place – and actually close the gap on leaders Birmingham City to nine points.
Wrexham probably would have anticipated a Wucombe victory and anything less than three points at Huddersfield would have opened up a real gap again.
Wrexham stay two points adrift though and will be looking to stay right on Wycombe’s shoulder ahead of facing the Chairboys later this month.