While few predicted Wrexham to struggle in League One, the fact that Phil Parkinson’s side can go into the November break ahead of Bolton Wanderers in the table is quite the achievement.
After losing out in the play-off finals last term, the expectation was that Ian Evatt’s side – motivated by that May day heartbreak – would go one step further this time and nail down an automatic promotion spot.
But while Bolton are certainly on the march, their faith in Evatt rewarded as a run of six wins in eight games dispels that horror start, Wanderers are still playing catch-up to a team who, lest we forget, were a League Two outfit as recently as a few months ago.
Momentum is truly a superpower, at times.
Bolton are proof of that themselves. Evatt took the one-time Premier League stalwarts out of the fourth-tier in 2021 before immediately establishing Bolton as a consistent top-six threat in the division above.
Wrexham’s impressive, duck-to-water beginning comes as little surprise, then, to the outspoken former Blackpool hero.
The Hollywood-backed Welshmen may be a case that has caught wider attention – Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were lauded in the House of Commons this week – but avid lower-league viewers will tell you that successive promotion challenges in the EFL are not exactly one in a million.
Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt lauds Wrexham’s flying start
“This is a tough league. It isn’t easy,” Evatt says during his Friday press conference, speaking ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wrexham’s fellow League One newcomers Stockport.
“What you normally find is that the teams which get promoted have that continuity. They are used to winning games, and it follows into the [next] season.
“It was never going to be easy for Stockport, Wrexham or Mansfield, and all three have done incredibly well so far. But it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Despite drawing each of their last two league games against Yorkshire duo Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United, Wrexham remain third and only four points off the top. Phil Parkinson’s team will go head-to-head on Saturday with a Mansfield outfit who sit just one place behind them in the table.
Bolton are sixth but rising fast, while Stockport are still tenth despite a recent drop-off.
And while Wrexham remain the topic of conversation for most with a passing interest in League One football, Parkinson is relishing the prospect of replicating last season’s Mansfield promotion battle in another division.
Phil Parkinson delighted to see Mansfield challenge Wrexham again
“What a fantastic game for us. Live on television [on Sky Sports], 12.30pm kick-off, against one of our old adversaries from last year who are going well. And it’s a top of the table clash!” Parkinson says excitedly.
“For this game to be classed as a top of the table clash at this stage of the season is great tribute to both ourselves and Mansfield because we have both took to a very strong division really well.
“Both teams have got momentum from last season and we have both started the season really well.
“We would look forward to playing Mansfield anyway because of our rivalry with them last year but the fact that we are both in and around the top six is great and adds that extra bit of spice to the game.”