Wrexham are up to second in League One again after a late Steven Fletcher goal secured a 2-1 home win over Wigan Athletic.
Wrexham beat Blackpool 2-1 on Boxing Day and Phil Parkinson was looking for a positive end to 2024.
Wigan Athletic were the opponents on Sunday afternoon and were a major threat after beating Rotherham United away from home on Boxing Day.
Paul Mullin’s stunning goal dazzled Wrexham fans just days ago but it was Ryan Barnett who opened the scoring for Wrexham against Wigan.
Joe Hugill pulled Wigan level with the Manchester United loanee appearing to rescue a point for the visitors with 10 minutes to play.
Steven Fletcher popped up with the winner though, firing home James McClean’s cross late in the day to hand Wrexham a 2-1 win.
- READ MORE: Wrexham player ratings vs Wigan Athletic, with two 8/10s including super-sub Steven Fletcher
Wigan Athletic boss on Wrexham spending
Phil Parkinson has praised Fletcher for his impact whilst Ben Tozer has hailed Fletcher too with the Scot taking the plaudits.
This was not vintage Wrexham though and there will certainly be days where Parkinson’s side play better and come away with nothing.
Wrexham got the job done though and after frustrating draws against Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers, nobody will turn their noses up at narrow wins.
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney has now shared his verdict on the game whilst speaking to Wigan Today after the final whistle.
Maloney believes that Wigan played so well and deserved to win the game, never find claim a draw.
Maloney feels that Wigan ‘outplayed’ Wrexham despite suggesting that ‘the level of investment’ in Parkinson’s side far eclipses his.
“It’s a tough one, because you never want to accept getting beat, but if you are to get beat, you want it to be playing like that. If we’d drawn 1-1, I would have been disappointed…that’s how well we played,” said Maloney.
“And I feel most disappointed for the players and also the supporters, who I thought were brilliant. You look at the level of investment in this team (Wrexham)…and I think we’ve come here and outplayed them.
“In the last 10 minutes, the game could have gone either way, and I didn’t want us to take our foot off the gas. I wanted us to go all-out for the win, but their second goal is similar to the first, a long diagonal ball that ends up in our box, and Fletcher has brilliant quality, it’s a brilliant finish,” he added.
Wigan have been through financial difficulties over the years and Wrexham’s £2million summer spend was certainly more than the Latics could afford.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have backed Wrexham brilliantly and many League One managers would no doubt love similar funds to spend.
- READ MORE: Wrexham striker target has previously admitted Elliot Lee friendship, they were ‘inseparable’
Wrexham should attack January window
There will always be League One managers pointing to the money aspect around Wrexham, or even the Hollywood factor.
Money only gets you so far though; how much money have Manchester United thrown at signings over the years?
Their enormous outlay has brought limited success and Wrexham have managed to find the right characters to go alongside their talent.
January now provides another opportunity to strengthen and Wrexham must attack the window despite a couple of wins over the festive period.
Shaun Harvey suggests money is available for Wrexham to spend in January and key additions can bolster Wrexham’s promotion hopes.
Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford has been linked with Wrexham and a proven goalscorer may well be the focus – even after Fletcher’s match-winning heroics.