Wrexham

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Ryan Barnett believes Wrexham are yet to hit their ceiling after moving into League One's automatic promotion places courtesy of a 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic.

Barnett scored his second goal of the season before Steven Fletcher netted a late winner after Joe Hugill looked to have earned the Latics a point at the Stok Racecourse.

But wing-back Barnett believes Phil Parkinson's side can improve even further as they go in search of a third successive promotion.

"I still don't even think we've hit our ceiling yet," said the 25-year-old.

"We've got so much quality in this dressing room and we've got so many more levels that we can go to. That's exciting with half of the season left.

"The squad that the club have assembled is really strong, especially for this league.

"When people get injured or there's a loss of form, other people come in and the quality doesn't really change because that's the kind of characters and players we've brought in."

Barnett has started all but one of Wrexham's league matches so far this season having been in and out of the side last term after joining from Solihull Moors.

The Shrewsbury-born player also says he feels at home in north Wales.

"Ever since I've joined, there's been so many highs. It couldn't have gone any better if I'm totally honest," he added.

"I've loved it. I feel at home here. Long may it continue."

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Wrexham striker Steven Fletcher says he was left breathless after his over exuberant celebration following his late match winner against Wigan Athletic.

The forward notched his third goal in four games in the first minute of added time as Phil Parkinson's side rose to second in League One courtesy of their 2-1 victory over the Latics.

"I need to take a minute, the celebration was too much," admitted Fletcher.

"I knew straight away as soon as I started running."

It was the second game running in which the ex-Scotland international scored in the final stages to earn Wrexham victory following his winner against Blackpool on 26 December.

The Red Dragons remain unbeaten on home soil in the league this season having won 11 and drawn two of their 13 matches at the Stok Racecourse.

And Fletcher, 37, admits he has been taken aback by the strength Wrexham have consistently been able to show on their own patch since he joined the club from Dundee United in 2023.

"I'd like to have a bit more comfortable games, but it wouldn't be Wrexham without a bit of fun," added Fletcher.

"I don't know what it is about this place. I realised that when I first came.

"Something about this place, I don't know if it's the fans or something, but it carries us over the line all the time.

"It's credit to the lads and the gaffer. We keep going, he's got that mentality driven into us that we keep going to the end."

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Wrexham boast the same mentality as Sir Alex Ferguson's title-winning Manchester United side, says boss Phil Parkinson.

The Red Dragons rose to second in League One as goals from Ryan Barnett and Steven Fletcher earned Wrexham a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic at the Stok Racecourse.

It proved to be a dream end to 2024 for the north Wales side after Wycombe Wanderers lost 2-1 at Charlton Athletic while league leaders Birmingham City drew 0-0 with Blackpool.

And Parkinson says he saw many of his side's qualities in Ferguson's iconic United side after watching a documentary on the Scottish manager ahead of his side's showdown with Wigan.

"The results going in our favour, we're not looking at that and it's very early on in the season, we're only at the halfway point," said Parkinson.

"It's always about believing isn't it. 

"I was watching the Sir Alex documentary yesterday and how Manchester United go to right to the wire, we've got that mentality here, we go to the end.

"We always believe we can get a goal, and Fletch has produced a real quality strike for us to win the game."

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Wrexham are confident Elliot Lee will return to their matchday squad for the League One fixture with Wigan Athletic on Sunday (15:00 GMT kick-off).

The midfielder missed his side's 2-1 triumph over Blackpool in north Wales on 26 December due to a hamstring issue.

But assistant boss Steve Parkin says the 30-year-old - who has scored six goals this season - has a good chance of being involved against the Latics at the Stok Racecourse.

"I think a precaution was taken today," said Parkin.

"He'll definitely have to have a couple of decent days in training, but I think he'll have a chance [of being involved]."

Wrexham remain unbeaten on home soil in the league this season having won 10 and drawn two of their 12 League One fixtures to date.

And Parkin praised the mentality of Wrexham's fringe players following a busy schedule to end the calendar year.

"It's important that the players rest and recuperate, the squad is so important," he said.

"The lads who have not been in the team on the bench or not even on the bench have been amazing in training.

"They're fully clued in like they were last season. I'm sure they'll play a part and have a role over the next two or three weeks because the games are coming thick and fast."

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Mark Howard admits he's grateful to be adding value since returning to Wrexham's starting line-up after making his 400th career appearance.

Goalkeepers Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton have both been sidelined through injury of late, paving the way for Howard to feature in five successive matches.

He made his 400th career appearance during Wrexham's 2-1 win against Blackpool at the Stok Racecourse on 26 December.

And the 38-year-old is grateful to be contributing having had to settle for a place on the bench at best for the majority of his career in north Wales to date.

"I'm delighted to be back in the team," he said.

"It's never nice to get in the team through someone being injured, and unfortunately we've got two at the moment.

"For me personally to have achieved my 400th game, I don't want to look at the stat for the amount of times I've been on the bench, I think there's another 400 in there that I've missed out on.

"It's really good to feel like I'm adding value to the team again, not just off the pitch.

"To feel like I've come in and taken over from what the other two have done, it's nice to be back in there and show some of the younger ones that I can still do it."

Victory against Blackpool at the midway point of the campaign ensured Wrexham - who sit third in League One - kept the pressure on the current top two Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers.

And Howard feels Wrexham's squad and staff deserve immense credit for putting the club firmly in contention for a third successive promotion.

"To go back-to-back and then put ourselves in this position is an incredible achievement," added the veteran goalkeeper.

"We all want to keep knocking on the door to try and push out of this league.

"To be where we are is full credit to the staff and players. It's an unbelievable achievement."

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Wrexham head into the final days of 2024 hoping to round off a successful year by maintaining their fine home record.

Phil Parkinson's team are unbeaten on their own patch in League One this season, which is quite an achievement for a club playing at this level for the first time in almost two decades.

In 11 home league games in this campaign, Wrexham have chalked up nine wins and two draws, the second of which came against Cambridge United in their most recent Stok Racecourse fixture.

Wrexham have not lost on their ground – in league or cup – in more than nine months, since Tranmere Rovers triumphed 1-0 in north Wales on 16 March.

That was Wrexham's second league defeat of 2024, after Bradford City's triumph in February.

They were the only losses Wrexham have endured in 22 home league games in the calendar year, with 17 Dragons wins and three draws, 48 goals scored and just 11 conceded.

The hope for Parkinson's players is that their sparkling record looks even more impressive after they host Blackpool on Thursday, 26 December (15:00 GMT) and Wigan Athletic three days later.

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Phil Parkinson says he will not be overly critical of his Wrexham side after they let a lead slip late on for the second game in succession.

Promise Omochere struck in the 86th minute to earn Bristol Rovers a 1-1 draw with Parkinson's side - who went in front through Elliot Lee at the Memorial Stadium.

It came a week after Cambridge United snatched a 2-2 draw with the north Wales side at the Stok Racecourse courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty.

But Parkinson feels his side's showing against Bristol Rovers was worthy of victory - adding that Wrexham have the perfect chance to respond as they sign off 2024 with home matches against Blackpool and Wigan Athletic.

"We're just training as normal and we'll get ready for that game [Blackpool] which we'll look forward to," he said.

"It'd be nice to finish our home calendar off in good style. We'll just have to take this disappointment together.

"The fans were brilliant for us again today, what a turnout in these conditions.

"They've seen a performance of absolute endeavour from the boys today, you can't fault that.

"It's always easy to end up being too critical after the disappointment of conceding a late goal, but we really should be talking about a comfortable victory today."

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Arthur Okonkwo is still "a while" away from returning from injury, according to Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

The goalkeeper has been sidelined since breaking his wrist during his side's 1-0 win against Mansfield Town on 9 November.

Ahead of Wrexham's trip to Bristol Rovers, Parkinson confirmed Okonkwo and forward Jack Marriott (broken leg) were both making good progress during their respective recoveries.

Following the 1-1 draw with the Gas on Saturday, Parkinson said Wrexham will continue to monitor Okonkwo closely before allowing him to return to action.

"Arthur, he's going to be a while but there's no problem with the bone and the way it's healed which is great," said Parkinson.

"I don't really want to put a [return] date, let's just see how he progresses over the next week or so.

"Mark's [Mark Howard] been brilliant, his kicking today [against Bristol Rovers] and his all-round calmness was superb."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says the departure of Matt Taylor as Bristol Rovers boss creates a "bit of unpredictability" ahead of Saturday's League One meeting.

Taylor was sacked earlier this week after the Pirates' defeat by Birmingham left the club two points above the League One relegation zone.

"I know Matt and I feel sorry for him losing his job," Parkinson said.

"He's a good manager and a really good guy so I was so disappointed for him.

"There's talk of a manager possibly being appointed by the weekend so that creates an unpredictability in terms of how they're going to line up personnel wise."

Rovers' defeat at Birmingham was their third in a row in the league, while their goal difference of -11 is the worst in the division, aside from the four sides in the relegation zone.

"We're not sure how they are going to set up, but let's concentrate on ourselves and what we need to do," Parkinson added.

"You have to be at the races every game to get the result like we have been the majority of the season."

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Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and striker Jack Marriott are both making good progress as they recover from injuries.

Okonkwo suffered a broken wrist in Wrexham's 1-0 win over Mansfield Town on 9 November and although he did not require surgery was ruled out for an initial six weeks.

Marriott suffered a broken leg during training in October which required surgery and sideline him for four months.

"Arthur saw the specialist on Wednesday and got really positive feedback about the way that the bone's healed," manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"That's great news for him as well as us because there's nothing worse than a player to be out injured and he's been back out on the grass with us in the last week.

"Jack Marriott is also progressing quicker than we expected and he's determined to keep knocking days if not weeks off his return to training date.

"We're expecting him to be back on the grass next week."

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Wrexham have been boosted ahead of the busy holiday fixture period by the return to action of midfielder George Evans.

The 30-year-old started Tuesday's reserve team game against Salford City and enjoyed more than an hour of action before being withdrawn in the 2-1 home defeat.

Evans had been sidelined since damaging ankle ligaments in a 1-0 League One loss at Stevenage at the start of October.

"That gives us another body going into the Christmas period," Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said.

"We'll have a good week and we'll be ready for action come next week."

Wrexham signed Evans from Millwall in September 2023 on a two-year deal, with the player signing a new contract in July 2024 that committed his future to the club until 2026.

Wrexham will play five games between 21 December and 4 January, beginning with Saturday's league trip to Bristol Rovers that kicks off at 12:30 GMT.

"We've got the squad to cope with that and that's what football's all about, and it's about enjoying it," Parkinson added.

"I think the lads love playing games, and as a manager and staff we enjoy match days. The games come thick and fast, but everyone knows the schedule at the start of the season and we're ready for each one as they come along."