Wrexham’s push for promotion to the Championship continues after Phil Parkinson picked up a 1-0 win over Stockport County.
We are becoming very used to seeing 1-0 Wrexham victories.
Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers were all beaten 1-0 recently with wrexham securing narrow victories.
Saturday brought exactly the same again as Wrexham beat Stockport County 1-0 at the STōK Cae Ras.
Jay Rodriguez scored the only goal of the game, firing home at the second attempt after Corey Addai had saved his spot kick.
Phil Parkinson was angry with referee Simon Mather for having failed to give Wrexham a penalty just before pointing to the spot for Ibou Touray’s handball.
Paul Merson on Jay Rodriguez
The penalty was given in questionable circumstances.
A ball deep into the back post saw James McClean win a header but seemingly giving Touray a shove in the process.
Touray’s arms went up into the air as a result and as the ball struck his arm, Mather pointed to the spot.
Sam Smith’s earlier penalty shout was arguably much stronger but Wrexham will certainly take it whilst Stockport fans raged at the penalty decision.
Pundit Paul Merson has offered his verdict, telling Sky Sports (22/03, 17:15) that he didn’t think it was a penalty, sympathising with Touray both in terms of being pushed and for his arm being in the air.
Merson did though add praise for Rodriguez – despite the January signing seeing his penalty saved before tucking home on the rebound.
Merson pointed out that Rodriguez immediately ran to the left after taking his penalty, putting himself in prime position for any rebound.
That movement worked out perfectly for Rodriguez and Wrexham with Merson stating that it was ‘brilliantly done’.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty, I really didn’t. I thought that McClean had pushed Touray and he’s put his arm up, I don’t know what else he can do.
“Rodriguez, you watch him, when he takes the penalty, as soon as he takes it he runs to his left. It’s brilliantly done, how he gets to shoot again before anybody gets into the box is beyond me, in my opinion,” he added.
Paul Merson on Wrexham style of play
Merson also commented on the League One promotion race as a whole.
Rob McElhenney celebrated Wrexham’s win and Merson now believes that Wrexham are in a straight shootout with Wycombe Wanderers for second place.
Wrexham now sit second after beating Stockport but Wycombe will now have a game in hand.
Stockport and Charlton Athletic had been threatening late runs but Wrexham’s win on Saturday has really opened up a gap.
Merson thinks that Wrexham would have to collapse to let those teams back in, but doesn’t see that happening.
The former England international thinks that Wrexham’s style of play may not be entertaining or free-flowing, but claims that Parkinson has a ‘proper team’ who all work hard and defend well.
“Massive – I think it’s a shootout now between them and Wycombe who go up,” said Merson.
“I think, with the Charlton result and then Wrexham beating Stockport, it takes them out of the equation. Not enough games to go, too many points clear – they would have to really have a collapse and the way Wrexham play, I don’t see that happening.
“They might lose a couple of games but they’re always going to be in football matches because of the way they play. It’s not entertaining, free-flowing, open football but they defend well, they all know what they’re doing, they all sing off the same hymn sheet and they are a proper team that work together,” he added.
Wrexham now have eight games to go and will hope to pick up another big win at Exeter City next weekend.