Wrexham can take it easy this week knowing they don’t play until the weekend, but Phil Parkinson will be hard at work trying to find any advantage he can ahead of the clash with Wigan Athletic.
After a 3-0 win against Burton Albion at the weekend, and Wycombe’s defeat to Reading, Wrexham now sit six points clear in second place in the League One table.
Wycombe’s game in hand will change things, of course, with the Chairboys in action against Huddersfield on Tuesday night.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Birmingham | 39 | 28 | 8 | 3 | 71 | 28 | 43 | 92 |
| 2 | Wrexham | 41 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 59 | 32 | 27 | 81 |
| 3 | Wycombe | 40 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 65 | 37 | 28 | 75 |
| 4 | Stockport | 41 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 60 | 36 | 24 | 74 |
| 5 | Charlton | 41 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 57 | 38 | 19 | 73 |
| 6 | Bolton | 40 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 66 |
Phil Parkinson knows now that, if Wrexham can just win their remaining games, they will be playing in the Championship next season.
It’s a powerful position to be in, to have your fate in your own hands, and one Parkinson will not take for granted. But, just in case he needs it, The Wrexham Insider has a little advice for the gaffer.
Wrexham can overrun Wigan in the middle of the park
We already know Parkinson is doing his ‘homework’ on Wigan, but we got the opinion of TBR Football’s Nathan Hassett, an expert on all things Wigan Athletic, to give us the rundown on the club.
Discussing the weaknesses in Wigan’s armour, Hassett outlined one key area that Wrexham will be able to exploit at the weekend.
He said: “We’re currently struggling in the centre of the pitch, with first-choice options like Matt Smith, Tyrese Francois, and Baba Adeeko out injured.
“Adeeko may return for the Wrexham game but still, with only two in central midfield it feels like an area that Wrexham could dominate.”
Wrexham, of course, operate with a three-man midfield, and that numerical advantage may be enough to win one of the most important battles on the pitch on Saturday.
Indeed, the current form of George Dobson, a player who is dominating League One statistics, could well see him becoming Wrexham’s key player on the day against Wigan.
Pace down the wings could be Wrexham’s undoing vs Wigan
However, it won’t be an easy game. It never is in League One, and Wrexham know that as well as anyone, after dropping points against struggling sides like Cambridge United recently.
Outlining the ways Wigan could cause an upset, Hassett looked to the Latics’ wide players as a potential problem for Wrexham’s defenders.
He said: “When on their game, Jonny Smith and Owen Dale offer a threat out wide. Ryan Lowe has set them up to stretch the pitch and to not cut inside, so Wrexham’s wingbacks will have to be aware of their pace down the flanks.”
Parkinson will be looking to his skipper, James McClean, and either Ryan Barnett or Ryan Longman on the right, to deal with those threats and do their defensive duties as well as getting forward to support the attack.
While all eyes will be on Huddersfield’s efforts against Wycombe, and what the result there means for Wrexham’s mathematical needs, the Wrexham squad and coaching staff will no doubt have their mind firmly focused on ensuring they get their part of the bargain done later this week.
Now, we just have to wait and see whether the Red Dragons can deal with Wigan’s pacey wingers and bag another three points on their way to promotion.