Four things we learned as a first-half Paul Mullin hat-trick saw Wrexham thrash Accrington Stanley 4-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Wrexham were back to their devastating best at home to Accrington Stanley and so was Paul Mullin as first-half hat-trick, followed by Elliot Lee’s goal, gave Phil Parkinson’s men an easy victory.
The Reds have looked off-colour recently and arrived into this match with just two wins in nine, however, today’s performance was a statement one.
It will have sent a huge message to their promotion rivals, who will have seen them falter away to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday, using that display as fuel to thrash Accrington.
Here are four things we learned from the match…
Paul Mullin is back
As the saying goes, form is temporary but class is permanent and Mullin showed that by scoring a hat-trick that was well received by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
The 29-year-old was going through a sticky patch in front of goal but after scoring for the first time in eight games on Tuesday night, he’s followed that up with three more at the Racecourse Ground.
Now, the Liverpool-born goal-machine must take that scoring touch into the run-in and fire Wrexham into the automatic promotion places.
Ollie Palmer took his chance
Ollie Palmer made his first start in the league for Wrexham in over three months this afternoon and it’s a decision that paid off for Parkinson.
Many have urged Parkinson to play the 32-year-old for weeks, especially after he changed the game off the bench against Sutton United, and today he rekindled his incredible partnership with Mullin.
The Reds record signing did what you expect of him as he put himself about physically; winning three aerial duels, five ground duels and two tackles.
It was his work off the ball that opened up space for his strike partner and is now in with a shout to start the trip to Morecambe.
Ryan Barnett is winning the battle at right wing-back
Ryan Barnett has been excellent since Luke Bolton arrived at the club.
Bolton came in from Salford City and many would have expected him to take the right wing-back position, but the 24-year-old has stood firm and made it his own.
Today, he supplied the inch-perfect assist for Mullin’s opener and was a nuisance to deal with down the wing.
If he continues this form, Bolton will have a job on his hands dislodging him.
Phil Parkinson masterclass
Parkinson had some huge decisions to make with his team selection, especially after Tuesday, but he largely got them right and he deserves a lot of credit.
He made the correct calls with starting Jacob Mendy at left-back, throwing Will Boyle straight back in and giving Ollie Palmer a rare start.
After receiving some criticism recently, he certainly fired back in this contest and long may it continue.