'Match-winner' Broadhead rewarded after 'best week'

Manager Phil Parkinson felt "match-winner" Nathan Broadhead's brace for Wrexham against Reading was the perfect reward for the Wales forward after his "best week" in training.

After an injury-hit start, the 27-year-old ignited his Wrexham career with two goals in the second half against the Royals as the Red Dragons sealed their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1977.

And Parkinson says the 14-cap international deserved his time in the limelight, given he is carrying the weight of being the club's record signing and being from the nearby area on his shoulders.

"He's a match-winner, there's no doubt about that," said Parkinson.

"You could see in the first half he was probably trying a bit too hard.

"Second half we got him the ball and I think that's key, we've got to trust him with the ball and serve him in those pockets of space, because there's not many players that have got his quality.

"So I'm really pleased for him. It's always tough when you come to a new club, there's expectations on you, and not just that, your hometown club as well.

"I'm just so pleased for him. I felt last week in training was his best week since his injury and he's taken that into tonight's game with two really good goals.

"The first one's a real quality finish but the second one, that's a great header. That'll do him the world of good.

"I think everybody saw tonight, in the second half, when you give him the ball, trust him with it and he'll make things happen."

The 2-0 victory over Reading was Wrexham's fourth triumph in five matches across all competitions, while they kept a second clean sheet of the campaign in the process.