Wrexham’s promotion hopes took a huge dent on Saturday afternoon following their 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
Wrexham’s promotion fate is still in their own hands with eight games to go. The Reds are in third place, above MK Dons on goal difference who have played a game more.
Despite their position, which many would have been happy with at the start of the season, an element of doubt has crept into supporters’ minds following the last two performances.
Phil Parkinson’s men were devoid of any creativity in the goalless draw against Harrogate Two while in the home defeat to Tranmere, Wrexham didn’t move the ball quick enough or create any clear-cut chances to warrant victory.
It is telling that the Welsh side have failed to score in their last two games despite registering a whopping 41 attempts on goal.
With that said, Parkinson has fired a defiant message to his players ahead of the final eight games, starting against Grimsby Town on Saturday.
Phil Parkinson fires Wrexham promotion message after Tranmere defeat
Wrexham’s defeat against Tranmere was damaging but given they still find themselves in the final automatic promotion place, there will be plenty of twists and turns before the season ends.
Parkinson insists that, despite Saturday’s loss, Wrexham are where they want to be and has called for his players to show more of a fighting spirit and coolness around the box to punish teams.
The Reds managed to do that against Morecambe as they ran out 3-1 winners earlier this month, urging his squad to rediscover those levels.
“It’s a very, very tight division. Very competitive and we’re in the mix, where we want to be,” Parkinson told BBC Sport.
“We could be in a much stronger position after these two home games [Harrogate and Tranmere] but we’re not, so we look at the league table and say ‘OK. it’s just an eight-game season’ and we’ve got to be ready for that.”
“This week going to Grimsby, we have to have the same kind of spirit and intensity and fighting spirit but have a little bit more coolness in and around the opposition box and if we do that like against Morecambe, like we have done in the past then we will punish teams.”
Wrexham must bounce back against Grimsby
Wrexham will be without James McClean once more for the trip to Lincolnshire as he serves the second of his two-match suspension and although the Irishman is so important, his absence isn’t an excuse to not win all three points.
Ultimately, the Reds have the quality in their squad to put Grimsby to the sword, they just have to be more clinical in the final third.
Their conversion rate across the last two matches has been unacceptable while their deliveries from wide areas, in particular, haven’t been up to the standard.
Paul Mullin, who has failed to register a shot on target in his last two matches, has been living off scraps and the supply line into him must improve.
If it does, as Parkinson said, Wrexham will have no problem punishing teams and recording back-to-back promotions this season.