Wrexham have fallen to a first home defeat of the season after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Stevenage.
Wrexham showed some fight and desire in last week’s 1-1 draw against Birmingham City.
This was the response we needed to see after losing at Shrewsbury Town, but Tuesday night’s clash with Stevenage turned into a nightmare for Phil Parkinson.
Dan Kemp and Jamie Reid put Stevenage 2-0 up inside 20 minutes before Ollie Rathbone pulled one back – possibly with the aid of a Paul Mullin flick.
Wrexham needed to kick on but saw Jake Young restore Stevenage’s two-goal lead with a smart turn and finish.
Max Cleworth pulled another goal back late on but Wrexham couldn’t find the crucial moment to level the game up.
Here are five talking points from Tuesday’s frustrating defeat…
Arthur Okonkwo’s frustrating night
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has been brilliant ever since walking into the STōK Cae Ras on loan last season.
Now a permanent Wrexham star, Okonwko has been superb in League One.
Sadly, this wasn’t one of his better nights in a Wrexham shirt.
Okonkwo parried the ball straight to Kemp for Stevenage’s winner before allowing Reid’s strike to flash through him and into the net.
There was little Okonkwo could do about Young’s crucial third goal but he will look at the first two goals as instances where he could have done much better.
Phil Parkinson got the lineup wrong but at least he acted quickly
Wrexham needed to really go for this one.
Stevenage arrived at the STōK Cae Ras with just two away wins in 11 League One games this season.
Wrexham again lined up with Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer up top though and kept the same midfield from the battle against Birmingham City.
The midfield three of Matty James, George Dobson and Ollie Rathbone are hard workers and provide fine energy but there was a real lack of creativity.
Playing the ball up into Palmer just wasn’t working against Stevenage and the first half was a tough watch in terms of a lack of attacking threat.
Parkinson perhaps needed to go with Lee in midfield and two strikers up front from the start to really take the game to Stevenage.
At least Parkinson made the changes quickly and changed his approach at half time, but the 2-0 deficit just left Wrexham too much to do in the second half.
Dan Kemp and Jake Young haunt Wrexham again
Wrexham might just be sick of the sight of Dan Kemp by now.
Kemp ripped Wrexham apart early in the 2023-24 season, scoring twice and setting up another goal in a 5-5 draw.
When Wrexham headed away to MK Dons last season, who was on the scoresheet but Kemp as he haunted Wrexham again.
Kemp found the net once more on Tuesday night, meaning he has scored against Wrexham for three different clubs inside 18 months.
That is quite remarkable but striker Young has enjoyed his time against Wrexham too.
Young scored twice for Swindon in that 5-5 draw and was on the scoresheet at the STōK Cae Ras once again on Tuesday night.
Mixed results elsewhere at the top of League One
Wrexham slipped up and there have been mixed results around the top end of the League One table.
Birmingham City beat Huddersfield Town away from home with Keshi Anderson scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.
The Blues now sit eight points clear of Wrexham at the top of the table and still have two games in hand.
Birmingham now appear to be pulling away but Huddersfield’s defeat means they haven’t gained any ground on Wrexham.
Wycombe Wanderers offered a blow though as they came back from a goal down to beat Barnsley 2-1.
Richard Kone’s 95th-minute winners sparked wild scenes of celebration with Wycombe now moving six points clear of Wrexham.
Wrexham face very tough period after shock home defeat
Wrexham have been almost flawless at home this season but that first defeat has now arrived.
Parkinson will be looking to hit back quickly but a tough run is now on the horizon in February.
Wrexham travel to take on Crawley Town this weekend before an EFL Trophy trip to Port Vale.
The home game with Leyton Orient has been postponed but Wrexham head on the road to Northampton Town and Mansfield Town.
This run means Wrexham don’t play at home again for more than a month, hosting Bolton Wanderers on March 1.
Wrexham have been poor on the road this season but if there was ever a time to put that record right, it’s after losing that sensational home record.