Wrexham

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham have to look at themselves for defeat at Stoke City after blowing the "big moment" at bet365 Stadium.

The Wrexham boss insisted "desperation" saw them fail to find their way into the game as they lost for the first time in five Championship outings.

The Red Dragons – who had not been beaten on the road since the opening day of the season – went down 1-0 in the Potteries after Sorba Thomas' deflected effort proved the difference.

But the 36th minute cross that clipped the boot of Kieffer Moore only came after Wrexham's Ryan Longman had missed an open goal with the game still scoreless.

Stoke boss Mark Robins called the miss a "let-off", and Parkinson said: "We had some great moments and obviously didn't take them.

"The games are so tight at this level and it comes down to key moments in games; we had the key moments in the first period and we didn't take them and we got punished by a bit of slackness.

"If you freeze-frame it when Sorba Thomas has the ball and say that three seconds later, the ball's in the back of the net, you probably wouldn't have believed it.

"We should have dealt with it but I did think that if we kept playing the same way, more opportunities would come.

"But I felt we didn't show enough consistency in our quality and our decision making in that second period and it was costly for us."

Wrexham struggled after the break, despite a series of changes from Parkinson - including a return for full-back Libby Cacace in just his third appearance of the season.

But they failed to put pressure on Stoke, with Parkinson adding: "It didn't come from a bad place, it just came from a place of real determination to get back in the game but we forced it a little bit.

"I think it came from a bit of a feeling of desperation and just the final bit of calmness or composure of the quality of that pass went away from us."

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Steve Parkin believes his former club Stoke City will have "high hopes" of securing a return to the Premier League as Wrexham prepare to face the Potters at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Mark Robins' side have made an impressive start to their campaign and sit fifth in the early-season Championship table.

"It's a long time since I was there but they've always been a club that, certainly over the last 10 or 15 years, that have touched on Premier League and Championship high-end football," said Wrexham assistant boss Parkin.

"The owners have been incredible in the amount of money that they've put into the football club to try and strive to get them there (to the top flight).

"I know their training facilities are second to none so they will have high hopes of getting back into the Premier League I'm sure."

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Former defender Parkin spent six seasons with the Potters in the 1980s before spells with West Bromwich Albion and hometown club Mansfield Town.

And the 59-year-old is looking forward to being reunited with several faces from his past as Wrexham bid to extend their five-game unbeaten run.

"It'll be slightly different in terms of the ground, it was the Victoria Ground when I played there, which I've got a lot of fond memories of," added Parkin.

"I know a lot of people in and around the area and I've kept in touch with them.

"They're all getting on a bit now obviously seeing as it's 35 years ago [since I left Stoke], but some of them are still close friends.

"It'll be nice to go back and I'm hoping to bump into a few old faces."

Wrexham defender Max Cleworth looks forward to his side's Championship contest with Stoke City this weekend.

Image source, Opta

The international break is finally over and Stoke will seek to get back to winning ways when they welcome Wrexham to the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 BST).

After taking 12 points from their opening five matches to sit in the automatic promotion places, the Potters are winless in their past four, taking three points and scoring only twice in that run, to sit fifth.

Wrexham are 13 places behind them but only five points back in a congested table, having lost just one of their past seven games.

• This will be the first Football League meeting between Stoke City and Wrexham since a 1-0 win for the Potters in April 2002, with Andy Cooke scoring the winner in that third tier encounter.

• In the Football League, Wrexham have lost 11 of their 12 games against Stoke City, with their only win coming on the road in February 1999 (3-1).

• Stoke's 92% win ratio against Wrexham in the Football League (11 wins in 12 meetings) is the second-best of any side in Football League history against an opponent they've faced 10+ times – only Man Utd vs Wigan (94%, 15 wins in 16 games) have a better ratio.

• Wrexham have drawn each of their past three games 1-1, against Derby, Leicester and Birmingham. They last had a longer run of draws in the Football League in November/December 1999 (6 in a row).

• Stoke's Sorba Thomas has created the most chances in the Championship this season (25), also creating the most chances in open play (19). He's assisted four of Stoke's 11 league goals in 2025-26.

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Max Cleworth says he has been learning from summer signings Conor Coady and Dom Hyam in a bid to improve his own game.

Defender Cleworth, 23, played a part in each of Wrexham's three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship.

But now operating in the second tier for the first time in his career, Cleworth says the experiences of Coady and Hyam have been invaluable for his development.

"They've had some incredible experiences," Cleworth said of the pair.

"Dom has played in the Championship for years and it doesn't need saying with Conor who was in the England national team a few years ago.

The Cheshire-born defender pays close attention to what the experienced duo do in training and is also a keen listener.

"We have general chats and gain experiences that they've had and I try to take a bit of that into my own game," added Cleworth.

"I listen to them and things they say on the defensive side but also on the ball, they have different ideas that maybe they've seen at a higher level.

"But also listening to the experiences they've had and some of the games they've played in, they're bigger than ones I have so you've got to try and take little bits from them and try and add it to my own game."

Cleworth is one of just three players - alongside Lewis O'Brien and George Dobson - to play every single minute of league action under Phil Parkinson so far this season.

But the right centre-back admits it will be difficult to continue to start each game given the strength-in-depth of the current squad.

"It's nice to play all the games, but the squad is so good this year that people will be in and out of the team, that's the way football is," he added.

"It happened last year and it's happened in the years before - we can rotate the squad and I'm sure the gaffer will do that this year."

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Steve Parkin feels Wrexham have the squad to cope with a hectic schedule that sees them play seven matches in 22 days before the final international break of 2025.

The Red Dragons recruited 13 players over the summer and have shown a gradual improvement in the Championship having gone five games unbeaten ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City.

And assistant manager Parkin is confident that Phil Parkinson has sufficient depth within his ranks to cope with the demands of the schedule over the coming weeks.

"It's full on, it's the division that we've been striving to get into," Parkin said.

"It's a really busy three-and-a-half weeks, but we're delighted with that because we feel as though we've got the squad to handle it."

In an additional boost to Parkinson, Ollie Rathbone, George Thomason and Liberato Cacace are all closing in on returning to action following spells on the sidelines through injury.

And Parkin says the Wrexham squad benefitted from the October international camp as they go into their latest busy run.

"We mixed it up, we got some good training into the lads," Parkin said.

"We thought there were three or four that needed a bit of catch-up training, so we're pleased with that.

"Then we gave them a good breather as well, so we're ready to pick up our tools and start all over again.

"You can do blocks of training (during the international break) that you don't normally do. We did Monday, Tuesday then Wednesday which ordinarily in the season, you don't tend to do that.

"We could certainly get some hard training into them, and I think it's been beneficial."

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Wrexham striker Nathan Broadhead was delighted to score his third senior goal for Wales but ultimately disappointed by the 4-2 defeat World Cup qualifying defeat by Belgium in Cardiff.

Wales' hopes of qualifying automatically for the World Cup were effectively ended - with Craig Bellamy's side now almost certainly having to go via the play-offs to secure their place in next summer's finals.

Broadhead came on as a substitute with just under 20 minutes remaining at the Cardiff City Stadium with Wales trailing 2-1 at the time.

The 27-year-old revealed that Bellamy told him to "play his own game and try to nick a goal" before he was introduced to the action.

"I'm delighted I did that," Broadhead said. "I always believe I can score goals at any level.

"But we're disappointed and hopefully the results go our way next month.

"Both games are must-win and the fans will support us. Hopefully we can get the six points."

Wales face Liechtenstein on 15 November in Vaduz and a win would see Bellamy's side draw level on points with North Macedonia.

Victory over North Macedonia in the final group game on 18 November in Cardiff would secure second place and a play-off spot.

Until then Broadhead's focus returns to Wrexham and the club's Championship campaign.

The former Ipswich Town player has scored twice for the Dragons during an injury disrupted start to his season.

"I love scoring goals and hopefully I can get many more for Wrexham," Broadhead said.

"I can't wait really for the season to get going for myself.

"It's taken a while. I had the injury but I'm enjoying it and I think we can do well this season."

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Liam Cullen reckons Snoop Dogg could make his first appearance at a Swansea City game when Alan Sheehan's team play Hollywood-owned Wrexham in December.

Swansea have indicated the American rapper will attend a fixture after he became a co-owner and investor at the Championship club in July.

There have long been suggestions that the visit of Wrexham, who are owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, on Friday, 19 December may see Snoop Dogg make a maiden visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

And it appears that is also the talk within the Swansea dressing room.

"I think he (Snoop Dogg) is actually coming over for the Wrexham game, that's what I've heard," Swansea forward Cullen told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"I am looking forward to seeing him."

Snoop Dogg's son Cordell Broadus has already visited Swansea, meeting the players and watching the game from the directors' box as Sheehan's men drew 1-1 with Watford in August.

"We have had his son in," Cullen added.

"With the new investors, Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on to the club and with the investment and stuff, there is a bit of a higher expectation now which is a good thing for us."

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Sport asked Wrexham fans which of their players have caught the eye so far this season - and which haven't.

Here are some of the responses we received:

Mike - Best performers have been Max Cleworth, Lewis Brunt and George Dobson. Only Conor Coady has been awful. Everyone is doing fine but maybe suffering from signing late or not having a pre-season. It's coming together nicely now though.

Frank - MVP is [manager] Phil Parkinson. To draw vs Leicester and Birmingham and beat Norwich, who all have bigger budgets, before all of our new players and Oliver Rathbone are healthy at the same time is impressive. Issa Kabore causes the biggest problem for the man marking him. With three goals, two assists and tied for most minutes played, Lewis O'Brien leads in goal contributions.

Jon - Lewis O'Brien, Kieffer Moore and Issa Kabore have impressed and obviously lifted the team. They seem comfortable at this level and arrived playing well. Through injury I am disappointed by Liberato Cacace and I'm really under-impressed by Conor Coady and Nathan Broadhead. The price tag brings pressure but he's not even making the starting line-up. I want to see these players perform and take their chance but they haven't so far.

Andy - Issa Kabore by a mile! Lad's an absolutely fantastic player and we're lucky to have him for the year.

Karl - It's been a tough baptism early doors, however I think we as a team are coming to terms with what's needed to survive and to compete in the Championship. Some players have adapted well, a couple maybe just off the mark, but it was always going to be tough.

Wrexham went into the penultimate international break of the year in 18th place having taken 10 points from the first 27 on offer in the Championship.

But which player or players do you think have been the best performers under Phil Parkinson so far this season? And who do you think needs to improve?

Have your say here

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Boss Phil Parkinson says Wrexham will play internal 11-a-side games in the international break to help players return to and remain at peak match fitness.

The Red Dragons went into the break on the back of playing three Championship matches in just seven days, with Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead now set to link up with Wales.

Parkinson hopes a number of players, including Ollie Rathbone and George Thomason, will be available swiftly after the two-week league break following absences through injury.

"We've got to look at these two weeks and have some 11 v 11 game time for Ollie Rathbone, George Thomason and get Libby [Liberato Cacace] as close as we can," he said.

"A few of the boys who have gone through these games will need some rest.

"I don't let the disappointment of drawing (against Birmingham City) affect my thought process on the schedule, because when we come back, we go into it again.

"So I want everybody refreshed and ready to go again.

"They're a great group of lads, I'm really enjoying working with them and we'll get that balance right in the next two weeks."

Wrexham return to action at Stoke City on Saturday, 18 October (15:00 BST).