Can Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson teach a new set of players how to pull off a Hollywood ending? | OneFootball

Wrexham missed the chance to go fifth as a 3-1 defeat at Watford loosened their play-off hold. According to NY Times, Southampton will replace them in the final spot if they beat Norwich on Wednesday.

Phil Parkinson’s side failed to register a first-half shot despite the incentive of leapfrogging Hull City to their highest league position since autumn 1979. They improved after the break but were well beaten.

Parkinson said some players were below the required level and that his team needed to hang in better, though he took heart from the second-half response. He said performance levels, 90-minute consistency and mentality could define the run-in, and he has six promotions behind him.

Recent seasons back that up. The final 10 games last year brought seven wins and three draws to seal second in League One, and in 2022-23 they took 12 wins and two draws from 15, clinching the title by beating Boreham Wood 3-1 before a 1-1 at Torquay.

Turnover since last summer has been stark, with only three promotion stalwarts on the field at full time at Vicarage Road. Suspensions and injuries have bitten too, with George Dobson banned for three games after a Chelsea red, Ben Sheaf out for the season and Matty James still in a protective boot.

Dobson returns for Sheffield United away on Saturday. Two defeats in a week have hurt hopes, yet this remains Wrexham’s most promising second-tier campaign since October 1979 and a collapse now feels unthinkable.

Source: NY Times