Wrexham produced another late show on Saturday afternoon, beating Peterborough United 1-0 thanks to Steven Fletcher’s goal.
Wrexham fans may have been a little disappointed after starting 2025 with a defeat at Barnsley on New Year’s Day.
Phil Parkinson brought up his 1000th game in management on Saturday afternoon and marked that incredible achievement with a 1-0 win over Peterborough United.
This wasn’t vintage Wrexham but a win is a win with substitute Steven Fletcher once again finding the net off the bench.
Fletcher’s late winner handed Wrexham a third straight home victory as the push for promotion to the Championship continues.
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Steven Fletcher on Wrexham late goals
Wrexham’s home record under Parkinson is brilliant enough but late goals have become a common theme.
Wrexham’s 1-0 win over Barnsley in December came thanks to a 92nd-minute winner from Ollie Rathbone.
Fletcher’s last three goals have all been scored late on too as he bagged winners against Blackpool, Wigan Athletic and now Peterborough.
Those three goals have come in the 88th, 91st and 87th minute, making Wrexham a real force late on.
Fletcher has become Wrexham’s late hero and he has seen this fighting spirit late in the day ever since he arrived in 2023.
The Scot has told The Athletic that Parkinson has created truly ‘incredible’ belief in the Wrexham squad, with players telling him early on the Wrexham would launch comebacks late on in League Two.
Fletcher added that he tells people who want tickets to watch Wrexham that they must stay to the end with late goals so common under Parkinson.
That message has certainly been proven right in recent weeks, though Fletcher himself may not have expected to be scoring all of the late goals.
“The belief the gaffer has created here is incredible,” said Fletcher.
“In one of my first games after signing, we went one or two goals down. I’m sitting there on the bench, thinking, ‘Oh no’, but I then turned to the players next to me and they’re all saying, ‘We’ll come back and win this’. That belief is all down to the gaffer.
“It’s why I always say to anyone who asks for tickets to come and watch us, ‘You need to stay to the end’,” he added.
Fletcher will hope to still be Wrexham’s substitute star
One man who won’t be surprised by Fletcher’s late heroics is boss Phil Parkinson.
Parkinson praised Fletcher as ‘almost unplayable’ when coming off the bench, noting that he was perfect to come on and make an impact after starting Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin.
Fletcher is proving that claim right but will hope to still be Wrexham’s late saviour after the January window.
Wrexham want to sign another striker this month with Parkinson keen to add another goalscorer to his ranks.
That could push Fletcher down the pecking order but his recent hot streak in front of goal should still see him play a key role moving forward.