UP THE TOWN:
HOW WILL WREXHAM FINISH THE SEASON?
Wrexham could be on the brink of the impossible. I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but The Red Dragons are keeping pace at the top of the Championship table and looking to take hold of their own destiny. The impossible being 4 promotions on the bounce. Four in a row. Think about that for a second.
When the ownership changed in 2021, even just playing back in the EFL at all was a pipe dream. Now, a few years on, we’re seeing the benefits of this investment and attention to cultural identity in a big way.
The last two matches have helped Wrexham solidify themselves in the top half of the table and in those playoff positions. Although a 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate (Feb 17) felt like two dropped points, focus quickly turned to Ipswich Town at home on the 21st. Only eight days after Josh Windass' goal saw Wrexham into the FA Cup fifth round, they battled Ipswich again at the Racecourse.
Josh Windass proved once more to be a thorn in the side of Ipswich Town’s defense as he scored another goal in the 37th minute. This time, with a header in the box after a scramble of defenders couldn’t deal with Kieffer Moore's cross, who added an assist to his goal earlier in the match. They went into the second half, tied at 2, and fans were remembering the cold night away to Bristol City, hoping not to see another 2-all draw. Fortunately, they got what they hoped for, as the rest of the game delivered 4 more goals.
First was a strike from Ipswich’s Cedric Kipre, who scored a great goal from outside the box to put the visitors ahead just a few minutes after the restart. George Thomason equalized with his first goal for Wrexham in the 66th minute after a deflection fell to his feet, slotting it away nicely. The Racecourse would erupt when Callum Doyle powered a header in off a corner, putting Wrexham up in the 74th minute. Then the final goal and icing on the cake was scored by Nathan Broadhead, who was expertly played in by Lewis O’Brien, and tucked away a side-footed finish into the bottom corner, completing the comeback. Sky Sports.
Wrexham now have 12 games remaining after yesterday’s home win against Portsmouth, which saw Sam Smith and Max Cleworth put the Red Dragons ahead 2-0 before halftime. Portsmouth would get one back, however, in the 49th minute off a pretty big deflection in the box, but that would be ‘all she wrote’ as Wrexham held on to win and keep their position in 6th.
After 34 games, Wrexham sit 6th in the Championship with 54 points, behind leaders Coventry City (68pts), Middlesbrough (63pts), Millwall (59pts), Ipswich (57pts), and Hull City (57pts).
This result is followed by a series of matches that will give us an idea of whether the Red Dragons are for real or not. They play Charlton and Hull City (a team they’re chasing) in the league, and sandwiched in between is their FA Cup fifth round tie against Chelsea.
What Would Premier League Football Mean to Wrexham? The short answer, everything. Not just the gravitas of Premier League afternoons in North Wales, but life-changing economic investment into a community that had watched its club disappear into non-league football for years and had almost ceased to exist entirely.
I know I mentioned trying not to beat a dead horse when it comes to Wrexham's ownership, but if this form continues on the pitch, it would be the Hollywood ending Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney promised. Premier League football at the end of it. I’m just happy to be along for the ride.