Wrexham had things almost entirely their own way against Mansfield Town on Sunday afternoon, and one player’s performance will have put a smile on Phil Parkinson’s face.
After the disappointing defeat against Leyton Orient in midweek, Wrexham desperately needed a win to get back on track in the promotion race.
Results went Wrexham’s way this weekend, with the teams above them dropping points and Phil Parkinson’s men gaining ground on second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.
It was a professional performance from the Red Dragons against a lacklustre Mansfield side, and the game gave Parkinson plenty to think about for the future.
Sebastian Revan proved to be a perfect understudy to James McClean
Parkinson made a number of changes to the Wrexham lineup for the game, and they paid off. But one of particular note was the introduction of Sebastian Revan, standing in for skipper James McClean.
The young wing-back was a constant thorn in Mansfield’s side, bombing up and down the left flank to offer defensive cover and, more importantly, threaten in attacking areas.
He managed to beat his man regularly, with the only issue being his final ball into the box; if he can work on that decision-making and execution, he will become a real asset.
Looking at the statistics from the game, it’s clear how much of a nuisance Revan was. Defensively, he made two clearances, blocked one shot, and made four tackles. He also won 59% of his 22 duels on the day.
| Statistics | Seb Revan vs Mansfield |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Pass success | 78% |
| Duel success | 59% |
| Cross success | 20% |
| Touches | 85 |
In an attacking sense, Revan registered an impressive 85 touches, and had a 78% passing accuracy rate. The fact he put in ten crosses throughout the 90 minutes says a lot about his impact from wide, but he will be disappointed to only have two of those crosses be successful — something to work on, for sure.
Now is the ideal time to give Sebastian Revan more minutes
This performance came at the perfect time for Wrexham, really. James McClean is now 35-years-old, soon to be 36, and frankly, we don’t know how much longer he will be part of the Wrexham squad.
His contract expires next summer, but there’s already been talk of him moving on, with a return to his native Ireland mooted.
One way or another, the Red Dragons will need a new man on the left sooner rather than later, and Revan has just proven he’s up to the task.
With a little refinement in his delivery and that maturity to make the right decisions on the pitch, the 21-year-old will no doubt be a key figure for Phil Parkinson in the years to come.