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Phil Parkinson Insists Wrexham Are Ready To Snuff Out The Gas On The Way To Promotion

Wrexham's manager Phil Parkinson. Pic: Alamy

Wrexham's manager Phil Parkinson. Pic: Alamy

Wrexham are closing in on promotion but there are still speed bumps to deal with and the odd nasty bend, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

The form guide, the table and a raft of 2024-25 League One statistics all point to only one outcome as Wrexham host Bristol Rovers at the Stok Racecourse on Good Friday.

Wrexham - now unbeaten in six games - have the second best home record in League One this season, winning 15 of their 21 matches in north Wales and losing just twice.

They have claimed an average of 2.33 points per game and scored 1.76 goals per game in these matches.

They're also proving incredibly difficult to score against having kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 10 league games while their total of 22 shut-outs is the most of any side in the division.

As for the Gas, they have the worst away record in the division having won just three times in 21 league matches on the road this term.

Iñigo Calderón's side have lost six matches in a row, scoring just three times and conceding 13 in that run while they average just 0.52 goals per game in away league matches this season.

But more damningly, when it comes to away matches in League One this season, their numbers are the worst of any side in the division in each of the following categories: goal difference (-27); points per game (0.52); points gained (11); defeats (16) and goals scored (11).

OK, we'll stop now. You get the point, right?

But the Wrexham faithful can be forgiven for not taking anything for granted as the latest chapter of their Hollywood epic promises more twists, turns and cliffhangers.

Phil Parkinson's side were way off their best levels last time out as they drew 0-0 with Wigan Athletic - failing to register a single shot on target at the Brick Community Stadium.

READ MORE: Phil Parkinson In Danger Of FA Charge After Dropped Points Leads To Blast At Referee

But Parkinson provided some timely context in the aftermath of the stalemate with the Latics as his side's advantage over second-placed Wycombe was cut to just a point after the Chairboys struck late to beat Stevenage.

"With four games to go, to still be a point clear in second is a great position to be in," said the Wrexham boss.

Not a single Wrexham supporter would have rejected the chance to be in this position if offered at the start of the campaign.

But the race for the second and final third tier automatic promotion spot is rapidly approaching 'squeaky bum time', as Sir Alex Ferguson famously put it.

League One automatic promotion run-in:

April 18 - Wrexham v Bristol Rovers & Bolton v Wycombe
April 21 - Blackpool v Wrexham & Wycombe v Charlton
April 26 - Wrexham v Charlton & Leyton Orient v Wycombe
May 3 - Lincoln City v Wrexham & Wycombe v Stockport

As has been the case during the latter stages of the previous two promotion campaigns under Parkinson, nothing is a foregone conclusion during the run-in, not least Friday's tussle with Bristol Rovers.

READ MORE: James McClean Is The Leading Man As Hollywood-Fuelled Wrexham Eye History

Indeed, their last two wins - both in early March - came against play-off chasing Huddersfield and Bolton while they also drew with Stockport in February.

Stockport and Charlton still have an outside chance of sneaking into second place - with both involved in fixtures against Wrexham and Wycombe over the remainder of the season.

Parkinson is in the fortunate position of having vast experience of knowing exactly what's needed to get over the line to seal a third successive promotion.

He can also rest assured that players including Eoghan O'Connell, Max Cleworth, Ryan Barnett and Elliot Lee have been there every step of the way since the National League days while the squad has continually been strengthened with arrivals such as James McClean, Arthur Okonkwo, Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher.

More recently, Sam Smith, Jay Rodriguez and Ryan Longman have bolstered the ranks, and it's all ensured Parkinson has never once needed to doubt where Wrexham are as both a club and a squad, or crucially, where they're going, even if some script writers are praying for a bumpy ride.

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