Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson deserves plenty of plaudits following the win against Millwall after one crucial decision he made that helped to topple the Lions.
Wrexham have achieved their first Championship win of the 2025/26 season after they beat Millwall at The Den.
The Red Dragons made tough work of it, especially in the first half after showing very little attacking promise. However, they led in the second half after a goal courtesy of Kieffer Moore.
Phil Parkinson’s side were holding on until the end, but against the run of play, Wrexham scored a second through Lewis O’Brien to seal the win.
As some Wrexham fans ponder how they were able to seal a win against Millwall on the road, one tactical decision helped get the better of Championship opposition on this occasion.
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Phil Parkinson tactical set-up helped Wrexham beat Millwall
Whilst Wrexham did face pressure on occasions against Millwall, Phil Parkinson’s side had the advantage of an extra man in midfield.
This proved to be crucial against Millwall’s 4-4-2 set-up, meaning that Wrexham could outnumber the opposition in the centre of the park.
Parkinson’s tactics have been questioned at times since the promotion to the Championship, but it appears that it worked brilliantly against the Lions’ formation.
Lewis O’Brien, George Dobson and Matty James in midfield have a tendency to pass it between each other, waiting patiently for small openings whilst keeping possession.
This makes it incredibly difficult for Millwall to keep up with the tempo of the game, when they have one man less in the midfield to apply pressure on Wrexham.
James, in particular, was also crucial in breaking up play, having sat slightly further behind both O’Brien and Dobson, giving the Wrexham back-three extra cover when Millwall went forward.
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Phil Parkinson deserves credit for the Millwall win
Wrexham fans have been critical of Phil Parkinson so far this season, and rightly so after a few difficult moments.
For example, the home draw against Sheffield Wednesday was very disappointing after Wrexham let a two-goal lead slip, courtesy of being overrun in midfield and offering very little defensive assurance.
Parkinson has seen to that and corrected the mistakes for the trip to Millwall, with Wrexham looking far more comfortable in defence.
The Red Dragons have faced the challenges that the Championship has thrown at them, and hopefully the win against Millwall can give them the platform to rebuild momentum.