Wrexham fans were left frustrated following their side’s harrowing defeat to Shrewsbury Town on Thursday.
Wrexham don’t have the best away record in 2024/25, dropping the majority of their points when playing away from the Racecourse Ground.
However, after already smashing Shrewsbury Town 3-0 earlier this season and the fact they were 22nd in the table prior to kick-off, a win for the away team was expected at New Meadow.
Things didn’t get off to a great start on January 16th though, with an Eoghan O’Connell mistake gifting Shrewsbury the opener after 16 minutes.
Wrexham fans praised Steve Fletcher on the night after the Scotmsman got them back on level terms with a leaping header.
However, O’Connell then gave away a penalty early in the second 45 to hand the home team a 2-1 lead, which they held onto for the remainder of the clash.
Phil Parkinson slammed for Elliot Lee call
Despite ending the tie with 62 percent possession, Wrexham managed just two shots on target across the 90 minutes.
Phil Parkinson opted for a strike force of Elliot Lee and Fletcher to begin with and the decision to start the former up top has now been criticised.
Wrexham fans slammed Lee earlier this season when was started up front and was poor against Lincoln City.
Now, speaking on the Rob. Ryan. Red podcast this week, journalist Nathan Salt has torn into the decision to start the midfielder out of positon up front.
He said: “Last night Elliot Lee playing off Steven Fletcher. He plays for 90 minutes, he creates one chance he doesn’t have a single shot, he touches the ball once I think in the Shrewsbury penalty area.
“And then you might say well you know he’s not an orthodox striker, he’s dropping a bit deeper. All right well, he made seven passes in the final third in 90 minutes as one of our lead attacking players. What are you meant to do with that?”
Phil Parkinson told to change Wrexham attack
As mentioned above, Lee didn’t have a single shot on goal during his time on the pitch.
And speaking in response to his co-host’s comments on Lee, fellow journalist and Wrexham fan Rich Fay expressed his desire for Parkinson to play two natural centre-forwards up front.
He said: “I would have liked [George] Dobson from the start. I would have just liked a proper strike force.
“Just give me Mullin and Fletcher if Palmer’s not fit enough to play. Give me a proper strike force because you have to score goals, like that is fundamental if you want to win games you’ve got to be scoring goals.”
Wrexham are in the market for a new striker this month but for the time being, it seems clear Parkinson prefers to play Lee out of position rather than relying on and out of form Paul Mullin.