Phil Parkinson’s decision to start Sam Dalby cost Wrexham dearly as they drew 1-1 against MK Dons tonight.
The Reds had the opportunity to make history by winning at the Stadium MK for the very first time and after James McClean opened the scoring inside 22 minutes, it looked as though they were well on their way.
Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived as Dan Kemp – who terrorised Wrexham earlier on in the season – equalised for the hosts and that was how the match ended.
In a bad-tempered game that saw two red cards as Dean Lewington was sent off for dissent before Will Boyle was shown a second yellow, there was one tactical decision that cost Phil Parkinson on the night.
That was starting Sam Dalby, who was making his first appearance since coming off the bench in the defeat to Bradford City.
Starting Sam Dalby cost Wrexham v MK Dons
Parkinson is a big fan of Dalby and has used him across 28 League Two matches this term, but the 24-year-old has only repaid him with one goal.
Despite this, the majority of supporters would have been shocked to see him start ahead of Ollie Palmer or Paul Mullin tonight, who both represent better striking options.
Dalby was required to press their defence high but he didn’t work hard enough and he let the Dons defence play through him.
Jack Marriott, on the other hand, worked himself into the ground for the team and was relentless in his approach to win the ball back.
Aside from being poor with his efforts out of possession, he also skewed all of his shots wide of the target and didn’t pose much of a threat in the attacking threat.
It begs the question as to how Palmer – who changed the game against Sutton United a week ago – wasn’t awarded an opportunity to start alongside Marriott.
Ollie Palmer deserved to start
Parkinson rotated his team heavily for this match, resting the likes of Elliot Lee, Stephen Fletcher and Mullin, so it was the perfect opportunity for Palmer to start, but it wasn’t to be.
The biggest attribute that is synonymous with the 32-year-old is an incredible work rate and a physical presence.
He runs himself into the ground for the team and after playing a part from the bench in the win over Sutton, Parkinson said he was knackered as he’d put everything into the end of the match.
Wrexham supporters want to see players on the pitch who put blood, sweat and tears into their performance and while Dalby didn’t do enough of that, Palmer would have done and he could have made a huge difference in the match.