Wrexham are back in League One action this weekend as Phil Parkinson looks to hit back after a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Barnsley.
2024 ended with two home wins in a row for Wrexham as Blackpool and Wigan Athletic were dispatched at the STōK Cae Ras.
Phil Parkinson was looking to take that form into 2025 but New Year’s Day brought a defeat for Wrexham.
Barnsley beat Wrexham 2-1 at Oakwell with Parkinson suffering yet another away day disappointment.
Wrexham are back at home this weekend though, welcoming Peterborough United to the STōK Cae Ras.
Wrexham beat Peterborough 2-0 away from home earlier this season and Parkinson will be looking to repeat the trick.
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Darren Ferguson on Wrexham clash
Wrexham are flying high in League One right now, sitting third in the table and holding aspirations of another promotion.
Peterborough are usually in and around the top six in League One but they are struggling this term.
The Posh sit 18th in League One, just five points clear of the League One relegation zone.
Peterborough have now won just one of the last eight League One games and Wrexham will be looking to pile on the misery.
A 2-2 draw at Burton Albion on New Year’s Day at least saw Peterborough come from 2-0 down but Ferguson is now warning his side ahead of facing Wrexham.
Speaking to Peterborough’s official website, Ferguson has told his squad to expect a fight against Parkinson’s side and called on them to step up.
“I’m not looking at league tables, purely because there’s no point at the moment,” said Ferguson.
“We need to just take it a game at a time. We’re on a hell of a bad run, teams can go through that and we’ve got to try and get ourselves out of it but I’ve seen enough today to suggest they’re up for it, the players, there’s no question about that.
“We’re going to be in for one hell of a fighting game against Wrexham, that’s an absolute certainty so we’ve got to be up for it again,” he added.
Darren Ferguson’s history at Wrexham
Ferguson will be making an emotional return to Wrexham this weekend.
The Scot was a midfielder in his playing days and joined Wrexham in 1999 following spells with Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sparta Rotterdam.
Ferguson went on to become a Wrexham hero, racking up more than 300 league appearances for the club.
Ferguson was part of Wrexham’s last League One lineup before Phil Parkinson guided the club back to the third tier in April.
The 52-year-old departed for Peterborough in 2007 but was actually hoping to become Wrexham manager.
Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph in 2024, Ferguson admitted that he wanted to take charge of Wrexham in 2007.
Ferguson wanted the chance to replace Denis Smith but was overlooked and ended up taking charge of Peterborough just weeks later.
“I was disappointed I didn’t have the chance to talk about the Wrexham job, but no-one has a divine right to get anything,” said Ferguson.
“It was no secret I had been preparing to go into management for some time, but it’s always the case in football that as one door closes another opens.
“I soon had a phone call from Barry Fry inviting me down to Peterborough for an interview with an ambitious new chairman and it all happened very quickly after that.
“I’d had seven great years at Wrexham. I loved it there and turned down many opportunities to leave. It was a special time among special people,” he added.
Now in his fourth spell as Peterborough boss, Ferguson is looking for a big win at Wrexham as he attempts to take the Posh away from the drop zone.
Ferguson will have to keep his former star Matty James quiet with Wrexham simply brilliant at home this season, and will hope for his players to really step up to the challenge.