Wrexham thumped Shrewsbury 3-0 on Saturday to move five points clear at the top of League One, but head coach Phil Parkinson has tempered expectations
Phil Parkinson is playing it cool, yet there’s no denying Wrexham’s blockbuster beginning to the season.
They’re unbeaten, leading League One, and have just triumphed over their closest league rivals in front of the largest crowd at The Racecourse in 44 years. It’s the stuff of a hit docuseries.
Ollie Palmer kicked things off with an early goal, thanks to James McClean’s undiminished vigour, setting Wrexham on the path to victory, followed by Elliot Lee doubling the lead before half-time. When Jack Marriott slotted home after a blunder between Toto Nsiala and keeper Toby Savin, Shrewsbury had already sensed their role in this script was up.
Parkinson, the head coach of Wrexham, couldn’t hide his satisfaction: “It’s a great start for us, it really is,” he beamed. “We’re pleased, but five games in, we know it doesn’t count for a great deal.”
“But we have to be pleased with our work so far this season and, now, we take a deep breath. Being top creates expectancy, but we have a group who are used to that and hopefully, they can continue to thrive under that bit of added pressure.”
Wrexham’s pace was too much for Shrewsbury, with the hosts dominating both as a team and individually. This loss has plunged Shrewsbury into the drop zone after only one win in five, but few teams will match the might that Wrexham currently wields.
In the latter part of the match, Parkinson introduced veteran Scotland striker Steve Fletcher as well as goal ace Paul Mullin, who’s gradually reintegrating post-injury. As Shrewsbury’s manager Paul Hurst put it: “For quite a bit of the game at 2-0, we were well in the game, but they are very good at what they do and punished a couple of mistakes.
“Ultimately, we gave them a helping hand in terms of the goals, and it makes an already difficult task so much harder.”
Despite Wrexham still playing in English soccer’s third tier, their upcoming league clash is against a team co-owned by an NFL legend. On Sept. 15, Wrexham go head-to-head with Birmingham City, partially owned by Tom Brady.
In light of this match, Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney dropped a playful note for the seven-time Super Bowl victor on X.
“See you next Monday @TomBrady 😉 Should be an absolute banger @BCFC @Wrexham_AFC,” he tweeted. It seems unlikely that Brady will attend given the launch of the NFL season and his new role as an analyst on Fox.
However, McElhenney might turn up in Birmingham for their most important league fixture in years.
