Wrexham have made it two wins from two at home after beating Reading 3-0 with a superb performance on Saturday afternoon.
Phil Parkinson’s season started in style as Wrexham beat Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 to open the League One campaign.
Defeat at Sheffield United and a 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers was no great shame for Wrexham but fans were keen to get back to winning ways at home.
Reading were the visitors on Saturday afternoon and Wrexham turned in a superb display to pick up a second win of the campaign.
Ollie Palmer and Elliot Lee put Wrexham 2-0 up in the first half before Andy Cannon fired home the third after the break.
Three goals, three points, a clean sheet – this was a fine afternoon’s work for Wrexham.
Ruben Selles on Wrexham
Reading have been through a torrid time in recent years but still have some quality players at their disposal.
The Royals can call upon the likes of Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage, Sam Smith and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan – players who can make a real impact at this level.
Reading just couldn’t handle Wrexham though and were almost out of the game just 33 minutes in as Palmer and Lee found the net.
Cannon scoring just after half time really took the game away from Reading and just left them with no way back.
This was an impressive win for Wrexham, especially having seen Reading cause problems for title favourites Birmingham City just two weeks ago.
Reading boss Ruben Selles has now delivered his verdict on the game – and Wrexham’s style of play.
Speaking to The Reading Chronicle, Selles noted that Reading suffered a ‘difficult afternoon’ despite playing well in the first 20 minutes.
Selles rued bad defending for Wrexham’s opener and suggested that the STōK Cae Ras is a ‘difficult’ place to play.
Selles feels that Wrexham have a ‘clear style of play’ and believes that Reading need to learn some lessons from the game.
“It was a difficult afternoon. The way we came into the game and in the first 20 minutes I think we showed what we are and the character,” said Selles. “I think we missed something in the final third, I need to review it. The goal came out of an action we should defend better, and the second goal came so quickly that it put us out of the game for a little bit.
“A game like today will happen. We tried in the second half, but we conceded the third goal. We need to learn the situations. Sometimes it’s difficult and those games are going to come. The boys put absolutely everything.
“In the last couple of games, we’ve been clinical but today we missed that part of it. When that isn’t there, it is important that you don’t concede, but today we conceded the first and should have defended better as a team. It is a difficult place [to come], they have a clear style of play and maximise their situations. We need to take the information from today and be prepared for the next game, which will be similar,” he added.
Wrexham will be a tough trip
Reading are a decent side but found the trip to Wrexham very tricky.
This may be a recurring theme this season with Wycombe and now Reading falling to defeat.
Wrexham can play a direct and physical style with experienced, battle-tested players who are right up for the fight and make it very difficult to play against – as Reading and Selles found.
Two goals came from crosses into the box against Reading and a third nearly arrived in the second half through James McClean.
Parkinson wants Wrexham to get the ball in the box; this isn’t just hammering the ball into the middle but utilising fine wing play and attacking the penalty area with regularity.
Next up at the STōK Cae Ras, after a trip to Peterborough United is Shrewsbury Town as the League One fixture list throws up an early derby.
Crawley Town, Northampton Town, Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town follow with Wrexham no doubt hoping to lean on a fine home record this term.
Reading aren’t the first team to come unstuck at the STōK Cae Ras under Parkinson and probably won’t be the last either.