Wrexham are through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy after victory over Port Vale on Tuesday night, and while some fans believe it to be a hindrance to the club’s promotion push, the opposite may actually be true.
After the third round tie was originally postponed due to snow, Wrexham have been made to wait and have had to fit this game into an already busy schedule.
Meanwhile, the Red Dragons are still firmly in the promotion race in League One as we head into the final 17 games of the season.
This had led some to suggest losing in the EFL Trophy would be better than progressing, a notion Elliot Lee strongly refuted, and we’re inclined to agree.
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EFL Trophy is perfect place for Phil Parkinson to make the most of his squad
Phil Parkinson saw his team prevail with a 4-1 win away at Port Vale on Tuesday night, and it was a near-perfect night for the Red Dragons.
The Wrexham manager was able to rotate his lineup and give a number of fringe players a chance in the team, with many taking that opportunity and making the most of it on the night.
It was a great night for Mo Faal, who bagged a goal and impressed the travelling Wrexham fans with his display. Wrexham academy star Harry Ashfield also scored and earned high praise from his manager after starting his first game for his boyhood club.
Meanwhile, the likes of Dan Scarr, George Evans, and Sebastian Revan got key minutes under their belts. All in all, aside from losing the clean sheet in the first minute of the game, it was a perfect outing for the Red Dragons.
When it comes to getting the most of the whole squad, there can be nothing better for Wrexham than having games away from league duty, where fringe players can come in and make an impact while gaining match sharpness.
Eventually, one of those players may very well be needed to step in for a league game, and now, they’ll be ready and raring to go.
Cup run momentum could end up being key to Wrexham’s promotion push
There is also a lot to be said for the momentum a cup run can generate, with confidence now surely flowing through every single player in that Wrexham team.
Even the players that didn’t get a run-out against Port Vale will be looking at the quarter-final and beyond and dreaming of playing at Wembley. That is an incredible motivating factor, and the desire to impress will surely bleed into any upcoming league games, too.
While Parkinson rotated his team heavily last night, we still saw key first-team players like Arthur Okonkwo, Max Cleworth, and Elliot Lee out there, and Parkinson will now be hoping they carry that form over to the next game.
While Birmingham City look to be running away with the League One title, Wycombe Wanderers are very much in Wrexham’s sights, and this cup run could end up being the secret weapon in the Red Dragons’ pursuit of automatic promotion.