Wrexham had a chance to climb up to second in League One when they travelled to Reading on March 11th.
The Red Dragons had won four away games in a row prior to taking on Reading – a stark contrast from their form when not at the Racecourse Ground in the first half of the year.
And with Wycombe Wanderers not in action until Saturday, Tuesday’s meeting was a great chance for Wrexham to move back inside the top two for a few days.
Phil Parkinson made a couple of changes to his starting lineup in midweek, which included seeing James McClean handed a rare start in the centre of midfield.
Ryan Barnett also made his return to the eleven, replacing his namesake Ryan Longman at right-wing-back.
Surprisingly, Modou Faal and Steven Fletcher were the two centre-forwards chosen on the bench, with no room for Paul Mullin once more.
Wrexham fans in agreement about Phil Parkinson after Reading
Despite their recent improvement on the road, however, it was an evening to forget for Wrexham.
The away outfit started poorly, and Reading took the lead early in the second half thanks to a Harvey Knibbs penalty, which Eoghan O’Connell gave away.
Lewis Wing made it 2-0 four minutes later, killing off any chance Wrexham had of going into their meeting with Wycombe Wanderers this weekend sat three points clear.
After a very disappointing showing in Berkshire, fans took to social media to express their frustration at Parkinson’s tactics on the night.
One fan wrote: “All on Parky and his weird team selection yet again – Stop playing Rodrigues —! Why is a left winger playing centre midfielder?”
A second added: “Typical Parky performance. Absolutely —–. If they had anything about them, they can win at a canter.”
“May I have a crumb of tactical nous parky, just a morsel,” another sarcastically commented.
While a fourth wrote: “Embarrassing. Getting absolutely schooled here. Sort it out Parky, ——- useless!”
“It’s hard to watch every week. Parkinson football,” another claimed, and a sixth stated: “Parkinson’s tactics are pathetic.”
A seventh Wrexham fan then added: “Joke! Negative tactics again, hoof ball”
Wrexham record in play-offs
Defeat at Reading has dented Wrexham’s chance of automatic promotion massively, handing Wycombe a chance to reopen a three-point gap with a win this weekend.
While the chances of securing a place in the top two are fading, a spot in the 2024/25 League One play-offs is all but guaranteed.
That’s unlikely to bring too much joy to Wrexham fans, however, given their club’s awful record.
Wrexham have failed to gain promotion via the play-offs in six previous attempts, most recently in the 2021/22 National League season when they lost out to Grimsby Town in the semi-finals.