Wrexham have endured a mixed start to their first Championship campaign since 1982.
The Red Dragons have claimed four points from their opening four games after securing a 2-0 away win at Millwall just before the international break.
Phil Parkinson has used the break to integrate new signings such as Ben Sheaf into the squad and get his players playing together as more of a cohesive unit following a flurry of summer transfer activity.
Parkinson’s injury update on Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead means they could be in contention for the home fixture with QPR but the Wrexham boss has singled out three key members of his squad for an important role.
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Phil Parkinson names key Wrexham trio to help win games in the Championship
Speaking to the Leader, Red Dragons boss Parkinson has been reflecting on his side’s start to the season and believes his side need to improve in possession.
The defeat to Southampton saw Wrexham surrender possession in the second half to produce a backs-to-the-wall performance and the same occurred in the draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Wrexham’s boss believes keeping the ball is an area the team needs to improve and has identified experienced trio Conor Coady, Matty James and James McClean as being key to that plan.
Parkinson stated: “I think we’ve learned when you’re leading in games, you got to keep the ball. Southampton, we were just clearing it and against Sheffield Wednesday, we gave the ball away too cheaply, too many times.
“If you do that at this level or any level, the ball keeps coming back at you and it’s wave after wave of attack, and ultimately you are going to come under pressure.
“At Millwall, we had periods where we passed the ball and we spoke about that to Connor Coady, Matty James and James (McClean) when he came on.
“They’re the players that have got to get control of the game with the ball and I was pleased we did that a lot better.
“You have got to keep playing to the end and it is not just survival in games, we’re good enough to link the play, pass it and create opportunities like we did.”
Wrexham may surrender possession against QPR
Wrexham’s next test in the Championship is a visit to the Racecourse Ground from Julien Stephan’s Queens Park Rangers side.
QPR have also endured a mixed start to their campaign and also sit on four points, three places below the Red Dragons.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 12 |  MillwallMillwall | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 6 |
| 13 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 14 |  WatfordWatford | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 |  WrexhamWrexham | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 |  CharltonCharlton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 17 |  Hull CityHull City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 4 |
| 18 |  QPRQPR | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 4 |
As per Sofascore, Wrexham have averaged 40.8% possession in their fixtures so far this season, whereas QPR have dominated the ball with 51%.
Should Parkinson’s side surrender the vast majority of the ball once again, they will have to be clinical on the counter attack with players such as Lewis O’Brien and Kieffer Moore key to that.
New signing Ben Sheaf is in line for his first start in midfield and could be the key to improving Wrexham’s ball retention alongside the trio that Parkinson has called upon.