Why Lewis O’Brien will be key if Wrexham are to keep their play-offs dream alive | OneFootball

If Wrexham do end up in the play-offs in May, Hull look the side to avoid. With injuries and suspension biting, Lewis O’Brien is central to keeping the push alive.

As reported by NY Times, Phil Parkinson’s team have been second best across three meetings with Hull this season. They scraped through a Carabao Cup tie that finished 3-3 before winning on penalties, then lost both Championship games, the latest a 2-1 on Tuesday that flattered Wrexham.

Not even co-owner Ryan Reynolds watching the second half in the Tech End could lift a side light in holding midfield. George Dobson’s VAR red card in the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea followed Ben Sheaf’s season-ending knee injury and a setback for Matty James’ broken toe.

Parkinson paired O’Brien with Zak Vyner, whose recent outings have all been in midfield, but the experiment lasted only 45 minutes before Vyner cramped and made way for Ollie Rathbone. Parkinson said Rathbone needed protecting and added top scorer Kieffer Moore’s hamstring seems likely to rule him out of Wales’ upcoming World Cup play-offs.

With Dobson banned for three games, including Swansea on Friday and Watford five days later, the onus shifts to O’Brien. Signed from Nottingham Forest for £3 million last summer, he has already covered six positions.

Little came off against Hull, Wrexham’s xG was 0.06 when Nathan Broadhead reduced the deficit with 14 minutes left. A response is needed on Friday, and O’Brien’s resilience suggests he could set the tone.

Source: NY Times