Wrexham

  • 9-10-6
  • 10th in English League Championship

    Wrexham inches closer to playoff spots with win over Preston

    Wrexham moved to within four points of the Championship playoff places with a 2-1 win over Preston at the Stok Cae Ras. Club record signing Nathan Broadhead nodded them in front in the 28th minute before substitute Ollie Rathbone doubled their lead 12 minutes from time, with Alfie Devine's late consolation not enough to stop Phil Parkinson's men making it back-to-back wins in the league for the first time this season. At the end of a year in which the club earned an unprecedented third-consecutive promotion, fans will be dreaming of yet another Hollywood ending as they continue their rise up the table. "All we can do is look up," Broadhead said. "Getting the three points is the main thing. "Obviously the playoffs would be amazing but there's a long way to go. I think we just need that belief in and around the place, for everyone to believe we can do it." Broadhead's goal came on the back of what was, against the Blades, arguably his best performance for the club, with the 27-year-old showing why Phil Parkinson was so keen to bring him in from Ipswich. "I was delighted with his performance," the manager said. "He was outstanding, and the goal he scored, it was a brilliant cross from Kieffer [Moore] and a nice header from Nathan. He's good in the air, he shows that all the time in training." Preston had a seven-game unbeaten run come to an end as Watford's late winner against Norwich saw them drop out of the top six. After the fireworks of Wrexham's 5-3 come-from-behind win over Sheffield United on Boxing Day, it was a much slower start three days later. Preston threatened first but Arthur Okonkwo saved bravely at the feet of Brad Potts, making his first start of the season for Preston after a hamstring injury. Wrexham did not get a sight of goal until the 21st minute, but then exploded into life. Moments after Josh Windass' angled shot was blocked, a fierce drive from Broadhead was palmed clear by Daniel Iversen, who made a double save as he also denied Kieffer Moore on the rebound. They should have led five minutes later. The quick-thinking Okonkwo threw the ball half the length of the pitch to release Broadhead, who cut into the box before firing narrowly wide. There was no mistake 11 minutes later. Moore battled well on the right wing before standing up a fine cross for Broadhead to nod in his fifth goal of the season. Sadly for Wrexham, however, it was Moore's last contribution as their top goalscorer went down holding his hamstring late in the first half, replaced by Sam Smith. Without the focal point of their attack, Wrexham spent much more of the second half pegged back as Preston pushed forward. Eight minutes after the restart Daniel Jebbison played in Thierry Small, but from an excellent position the left-back's shot was tame and easily gathered by Okonkwo. Next there was an even better chance when Devine was left completely unmarked at the back post from a corner, but his volley went into the side-netting. Wrexham had been struggling to get out, but Smith went close to doubling their lead with a powerful strike in the 70th minute which Iversen pushed wide. From the resulting corner, Callum Doyle headed just wide. They should have sealed it in the 74th minute. George Thomason wriggled into the box and stood up a corner which, with the goal gaping, a stretching Smith headed against the post. A second goal was coming and arrived when two substitutes combined, with George Dobson slipping the ball through for the onrushing Rathbone to tuck in his second of the campaign. Devine gave Preston hope when his low drive beat Okonkwo with six minutes left, but Wrexham hung on for a valuable win. "I'm very pleased," Parkinson added. "It was important we backed up the Boxing Day win and performance. "We spoke to the lads about that mentality to respond to the defeat at Swansea [on Dec. 19] and tonight, it was can we respond to a really good performance where we got a lot of praise against Sheffield United and have that accountability both individually and collectively? "I felt we did that against a good side who are up there for a reason. But over the 90 minutes, we deserved the win."
    • 3d
    • PA
    Wrexham players celebrate after scoring a goal against Preston North End in the Championship.
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      Wrexham come back from two goals down to beat Sheffield United 5-3

      Kieffer Moore struck twice against his old club as Wrexham recovered from 3-1 down to beat Sheffield United 5-3 in a Boxing Day thriller at StōK Cae Ras. Patrick Bamford had looked like stealing the headlines with a well-taken early double for the Blades but the hosts powered back to claim their first win in six Sky Bet Championship outings. With his short-term contract due to expire on New Year's Day, Bamford put himself firmly in the shop window as he scored either side of a Tyler Bindon own goal. Callum O'Hare added a third for Chris Wilder's side but Wrexham responded through Moore and levelled through Ryan Longman. Moore put them ahead for the first time and a Josh Windass penalty completed the fightback. The tone for an eventful encounter was set early on as O'Hare headed narrowly wide from a Sam McCallum cross. Bamford struck with a deft touch after just seven minutes. Femi Seriki whipped in a cross from the right and the former Leeds striker stuck out a leg to guide a looping volley over the head of Arthur Okonkwo and in off the far post. Wrexham replied immediately as they burst upfield and George Thomason sent a dangerous low ball into the area. Windass pulled back from the far post and the ball deflected in off Bindon. The visitors regained the lead after 15 minutes as Seriki curled in another awkward cross. This time Bamford sneaked ahead of two defenders to tap in. Callum Doyle went close to another Wrexham equaliser as he forced Oliver Arblaster to head off the line but the Blades soon made it 3-1 from a long throw-in. Moore inadvertently flicked the ball across his own goal and O'Hare powered forward to head in. Moore made amends with a thumping header at the other end, rising to meet a Thomason corner and cut the deficit to 3-2 with just 28 minutes gone. There could have been more goals before the break but Okonkwo saved from Bamford and Tahith Chong. Wrexham also had two penalty appeals turned down. On the first occasion the ball brushed Arblaster's hand as he raised his arm to appeal for offside, and fortunately for him the flag did also go up. On the second occasion the ball was ruled to have struck his chest. The hosts pulled level seven minutes into the second half as Longman headed home from a pinpoint Thomason cross. Okonkwo saved a fierce Gustavo Hamer free-kick at the other end but Wrexham began to take control as Windass tested Michael Cooper and Arblaster cleared off the line in a packed area. Pressure paid off as Moore struck again 14 minutes from time, racing onto a Nathan Broadhead ball and firing past Cooper. Victory was secured five minutes later as Windass converted from the spot after Thomason was ruled to have been brought down by Harrison Burrows. United almost claimed a late consolation when Tyrese Campbell hit the bar.
      • 6d
      • PA
      Wrexham's Kieffer Moore celebrates after scoring his second and his sides fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at the SToK Racecourse
      Cody Froggatt/PA Images via Getty Images
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      2025-26 EFL Championship Standings

      TeamGPWDLGDP
      Coventry City251573+2952
      Ipswich Town251285+1844
      Middlesbrough251276+743
      Watford251186+841
      Hull City251258+241
      Preston North End2510105+940
      Millwall251177-540
      Bristol City251168+1139
      Stoke City2511410+737
      Wrexham259106+537
      Derby County25988+135
      Queens Park Rangers2510510-435
      Leicester City25979-234
      Southampton25898+433
      Sheffield United2510213-232
      Swansea City259511-532
      Birmingham City258710-231
      West Bromwich Albion259412-531
      Charlton Athletic247710-728
      Blackburn Rovers247611-627
      Portsmouth246711-1425
      Norwich City256613-924
      Oxford United255713-1022
      Sheffield Wednesday241815-30-7

      2025-26 Team Leaders

      English League Championship

      Rankings

      English League Championship

      Goal Difference
      3
      Tied-9th
      Goals Scored
      34
      Tied-5th
      Assists
      24
      Tied-5th
      Goals Conceded
      31
      Tied-11th

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