Wrexham are pushing for promotion to League One but fans have been left concerned after Tuesday’s defeat at Reading.
Ryan Reynolds wanted another promotion this season, vowing to go for broke in an attempt to drive Wrexham forward once again.
Wrexham now have 10 games to go and sit third in the table, level on points with second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.
The mood isn’t completely peachy though with Wrexham fans critical of boss Phil Parkinson this week.
Wrexham were beaten 2-0 at Reading, serving up a poor performance against the Royals.
Wrexham now face Wycombe this weekend and defeat at Adams Park would leave the Chairboys firmly in the box seat for automatic promotion.
Wrexham sit bottom of League One table in one area
Parkinson is facing questions right now with Wrexham certainly looking less of a force going forward than earlier in the season.
New signings Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez are both trying to settle in together and Wrexham need to find fluency in the final third.
There is one method of goalscoring certainly lacking from Wrexham’s campaign so far – penalties!
As seen on Transfermarkt, Wrexham sit joint-bottom of League One for penalties awarded this season.
Wrexham have been given just one penalty all season, tied with Crawley Town at the bottom of the table.
That one penalty came against Blackpool on Boxing Day with Steven Fletcher stepping up top score the winner in a 2-1 victory.
By comparison, League One leaders Birmingham City have been given 11 penalties this season, scoring 10.
Wrexham’s main automatic promotion rivals, Wycombe Wanderers, have been given nine penalties – far more than Wrexham.
League One fans often suggest that referees favour Wrexham in order to aid Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in this Hollywood rise.
That just isn’t the case in the penalty area at least with Wrexham rooted to the bottom of the table for spot kicks this season.
Managers have complained about Wrexham decisions
Despite the clear evidence that Wrexham aren’t getting all of the decisions, managers still suggest that Parkinson’s side receive special treatment.
Just last weekend, Rotherham United boss Steve Evans suggested that the referee kept giving 50:50 decisions in Wrexham’s favour.
This was a repeat of October as Evans branded referee Ben Atkinson ‘simply awful’, again suggesting that Wrexham were given tight decisions.
Wrexham won both games 1-0 and Evans’ comments were echoed by Mansfield Town’s Nigel Clough too.
Clough claimed that Mansfield never get decisions against Wrexham having been unhappy with two games at the STōK Cae Ras in 2024.
Managers are entitled to their frustration but Parkinson may be frustrated himself having seen just one penalty in his favour this season compared to seven in League Two last season.
Some will point to Wrexham not being quite as tricky in the penalty area as other clubs, preferring a more direct rotue.
One penalty in 36 games is an incredibly low tally though and after losing on penalties to Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy, perhaps Wrexham were a little rusty from 12 yards.