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Wrexham are Read all Over the World and Their Start is not Black and White

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. Pic. Alamy

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. Pic. Alamy

Wrexham have adapted well to life in the Championship under Phil Parkinson, showing promise despite defeats to Southampton and West Brom. But can they rise higher, asks Ian Mitchelmore?

 

With two matches of the 2025-26 Championship campaign gone, Wrexham remain without a point.

But it is far from doom and gloom at the Stok Cae Ras given the numerous positive elements to emerge from Wrexham's displays against Southampton and West Brom.

Former Crystal Palace chairman and current Talksport pundit Simon Jordan was quick to cite the level of opponents Parkinson's side have faced in their opening pair of league fixtures, adding "they'll be fine" when discussing Wrexham's prospects this season.

But what has Phil Parkinson seen from his side so far?

The sheer step up in quality of opposition has been obvious early on.

"It's definitely not a panic stations type situation but we know there's a couple of things we need to be a bit better at," said George Dobson after his side's 3-2 defeat to West Brom.

The midfielder added: "It's definitely the fine margins of being punished. Any sort of mistake or not doing your job quite right seems to get punished."

Wrexham's average of 38% possession is the joint-lowest in the Championship so far this term, although, under Parkinson, they have been a side who don't shy away from the fact that they are willing to go long when required - and they have regularly done so to great effect.

And with Kieffer Moore - who has wasted no time in demonstrating his impressive link-up ability and capabilities to hold the ball up - leading the line, their approach is clearly more direct than that of most of their second tier counterparts.

READ MORE: Record-Breaking Wrexham Now Close to £30m Summer Spending Spree

Encouragingly, the Red Dragons have been a threat in the losses to the Saints and the Baggies.

Conor Coady, goal scorer Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie had opportunities to bulge the net in the season opener against Will Still's outfit while James McClean, Wales frontman Moore, Nathan Broadhead and Coady were among those to give Ryan Mason's men some scares last weekend.

Their xG of 3.9 is the third-best in the division behind Coventry and Southampton and the xG per shot of 0.16 is bettered by only Birmingham.

It's defensively where huge concerns arise.

Wrexham have an xG against of 6.5, significantly higher than any of the other 23 sides in the second tier.

They have faced 44 shots - again, more than any other team in the Championship - at an xG per shot of 0.15, the joint-worst in the league - meaning they are not just giving up many chances, but quality opportunities too.

READ MORE: Phil Parkinson Admits Wrexham Still Short as Transfer Deadline Looms

Throughout Wrexham's surge up the football pyramid, Parkinson's men have been incredibly strong at the back.

They boasted the second best defensive record last season having conceded just 34 goals in League One at a rate of 0.74 goals per game.

They had the fourth best defensive return in gaining promotion from League Two in 2023-24 and the third best in their 2022-23 National League title-winning campaign.

But there's no doubt that the jump in class in the Championship is vast compared to the previous leaps made under the ownership of ambitious Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

READ MORE: Phil Parkinson Tips Nathan Broadhead to ‘Unlock the Door’ for Wrexham

It may go some way to explaining why the club are closing in on a big-money move for England Under-21 international Callum Doyle from Man City in a deal that could be worth up to £8m.

In securing successive promotions, Ipswich proved in 2023-24 that the defence does not need to be watertight - with the Tractor Boys conceding 57 goals at a rate of 1.24 per game. But their attacking talents well and truly shone through - with their 92 goals being the most of any side in the Championship that season as they sealed automatic promotion.

As a man who has previous experience of managing at this level, the step up certainly won't have caught Parkinson by surprise.

And as long as Wrexham can learn from some of the harsh lessons they have already been taught, they can continue to build towards their ultimate goal of reaching the Premier League in the future.

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