Wrexham

Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

By the final minutes of a two-hour window on Saturday, the play-off pendulum swung back towards Wrexham.

The Red Dragons' top six hopes are still not fully under their own control, although their 2-0 triumph over Stoke City coupled with Hull City's 1-1 draw against Birmingham City gently creaked the door back open for Phil Parkinson's troops.

Having conceded first in each of their past five league games, Wrexham controlled proceedings against the Potters and never looked like not keeping a first clean sheet in six games.

In the midst of the noise and pressure of the play-off push, the hosts played with the kind of composure and calmness that could yet be the springboard to elevating themselves back into the top six over the final stages of the regular season.

Understanding the importance of the occasion, Parkinson took risks, the most notable of which saw Danny Ward start in place of Arthur Okonkwo.

The Wales international did not have a single shot to save and commanded his box well throughout in addition to being comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Dom Hyam, Sam Smith and Josh Windass all returned and played their part in a comfortable Wrexham win - particularly the latter who is continuing to spearhead his side's bid to return to the play-off places.

As a result of the win against Mark Robins' men, Opta's predictor model now gives Wrexham a 19.98% chance of securing a top six finish. So still outsiders, but not exactly a 5,000-1 Leicester City 2015-16 Premier League title win either.

Should they emerge victorious against relegation-threatened Oxford United at Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night (19:45 BST), that percentage will increase further.

CEO Michael Williamson highlighted in his matchday programme notes that the club should feel proud with the way they have challenged for promotion once again this term, something Parkinson himself has echoed of late.

The manager has also been keen to force others in the play-off race to get themselves over the line, rather than affording them the chance to stumble over it.

But after their display and result against Stoke, the experienced boss will no doubt be quietly oozing the kind of confidence and belief that has been the core to each of his side's three promotions in the past three years as his side bid for more victories over the remainder of the run-in.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Parkinson says Wrexham need to put Stoke City on the back foot from the outset when the two sides meet at Stok Cae Ras (15:00 BST).

The Red Dragons currently sit seventh in the Championship, four points adrift of the top six with just four matches remaining this season.

It means they are edging ever-closer to must-win territory as they bid to secure a play-off spot.

But having conceded first in each of their past five league games, Parkinson stressed the importance of starting strongly against Stoke.

"We've got to make sure that we're ready to get Stoke right on the back foot for minute one of the weekend," he said.

The Potters had been strong contenders for promotion earlier on in the campaign and were in the play-off places until early December.

But they have gradually fallen down the table and have lost five successive away Championship matches ahead of their trip to north Wales.

Parkinson was in attendance for Stoke's 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Having watched Mark Robins' side in action, Parkinson deduced that Wrexham can expect a similar test to the one they faced when they lost 1-0 to the Potters on 18 October.

"Myself and Steve [Parkin, assistant coach] went down to watch them on Saturday, so we got a good picture of them again," added Parkinson.

"Similar to how they were when we played them last time, we know who the key players are, I think statistically they stand out for the team.

"So we know what they're all about. Of course they're like any team throughout the season, you can get in a good run and can quickly fall away.

"It's when you're on a bad run, you've got to halt it quickly and obviously when you're on a good run the key is to try and maintain that consistency.

"The teams which do that obviously are in and around the top six and there is a group of teams who are good on the day."

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Ollie Rathbone says he is proud of the way he has returned to action for Wrexham following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

The midfielder sustained a serious ankle injury in pre-season and - following numerous setbacks during his recovery - did not feature in any of his side's opening 20 league games of the season.

But since making his first Championship appearance of the campaign against Watford on 13 December - a game in which he scored a last-gasp equaliser - Rathbone has featured in 22 successive league matches for Wrexham.

"I'm really proud of myself for how I've reacted to that huge setback because it was a proper sickener for a while," he said.

"I've been really building myself back up and then had a few setbacks along the way.

"To come back in the team and stay in the team and play every game from when I returned is something I'm quite proud of."

Rathbone has contributed seven goals across all competitions since returning from injury.

And the 29-year-old says his sole focus now lies on helping Wrexham revive their play-off hopes - starting against Stoke City at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"I didn't get back into the team until December and I've played every game since, so I've been really happy with that," he added.

"I've managed to stay fit, which is what I wanted when I had that big setback at the start of the season. So hopefully I have a strong finish to the season."

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Wrexham will assess Nathan Broadhead ahead of Saturday's contest with Stoke City (15:00 BST), although Zak Vyner will miss the fixture with the Potters.

Attacker Broadhead - who came off the bench in the 63rd minute of his side's 2-0 loss to Birmingham City on Sunday - is struggling with a tight hamstring.

As for Vyner, the defender was not included in the matchday squad for Wrexham's trip to St Andrew's last time out.

"Broady's got a bit of a tight hamstring, so we're just going to review that up to the weekend," manager Phil Parkinson said.

"Zak Vyner has got to re-scan his groin tomorrow (Friday). Zak won't make the weekend, 100%. He's feeling a lot better, but that'll be too soon.

"Nathan, we'll assess him very close to kick-off."

Matty James has featured in his side's defeats by Southampton and Birmingham since recovering from the toe injury that kept him sidelined for two months.

He is in contention to feature against Stoke at Stok Cae Ras this weekend, although fellow central midfielder Ben Sheaf remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

"Matty was never going to play more than 60 minutes at the weekend, but he's fine," added Parkinson.

"Ben is still not with us on the training pitch. He has had some training but he's got a minor setback."

Image source, Opta

Stoke City will hope to officially confirm their status as a Championship club for another season when they visit Wrexham on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST).

The Potters are 11 points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play and need a win to guarantee survival - or for either Blackburn to lose or Oxford to fail to win.

The Red Dragons are looking for a victory to keep them in the hunt for a play-off place as they start the weekend four points behind sixth-placed Hull City.

• Wrexham have lost 12 of their 13 league games against Stoke, with a 3-1 away win in February 1999 the only exception.

• Stoke have won all six of their away league games against Wrexham, with this their first visit since November 2001. It's the joint-best 100% away win rate one side has against another in English Football League history (Northampton also 6/6 at Dagenham & Redbridge).

• Wrexham have lost their past two league games, and could lose three in a row for the first time since February 2024 when they were in League Two.

• Stoke are on a five-game losing run away from home in the Championship, and have not lost six consecutive away league games since between January and March 2013, when they were in the Premier League.

• Josh Windass has netted 12 league goals for Wrexham this season, just one shy of equalling his most in a single Championship campaign (13 in 44 games for Sheffield Wednesday in 2024-25).

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must get "our own house in order" rather than focusing on results elsewhere over the remainder of their run-in.

The Red Dragons sit four points adrift of the Championship play-off places with just four matches of the regular season left to play.

And having failed to capitalise on Hull City's 2-1 loss to Sheffield United at the weekend, Parkinson stressed that Wrexham's focus must be on returning to winning ways having suffered back-to-back defeats by Southampton and Birmingham City.

"We need to look closely at all the players to see who is ready to take the challenge on of Stoke City at home next week," the Wrexham manager said.

"The message is going to be this week that we need to get back to getting the balance right in our play and do better than we've done in the last two games. I think that's as simple as that. That's whatever personnel is on the pitch.

"First and foremost, before we think about anyone else's results, we've got to get our own house in order and give ourselves a chance to start with next week."

Wrexham's remaining fixtures

Wrexham v Stoke City - Saturday, 18 April (15:00 BST)

Oxford United v Wrexham - Tuesday, 21 April (19:45 BST)

Coventry City v Wrexham - Sunday, 26 April (12:00 BST)

Wrexham v Middlesbrough - Saturday, 2 May (12:30 BST)

Image source, PA Media

Waynne Phillips says it will take "something special" for Wrexham to end the season in the Championship play-offs.

The Red Dragons sit four points adrift of the top six with just four matches left to play following back-to-back losses to Southampton and Birmingham City.

Despite their play-off destiny now being out of their own hands, former Wrexham midfielder Phillips feels that Phil Parkinson's men, along with eighth-placed Derby County, are not out of the running just yet.

"It's going to take something special to finish in the top six. Hull are there at the moment," he told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"Wrexham, and Derby who are a point below Wrexham, will still believe that it's possible, and it is possible until it's mathematically impossible.

"It's a poor run at such an important point of the season, they've lost four of their last seven games.

"It would be really disappointing if the season just fizzled out as we've seen so many good things from Wrexham this season.

"But they should keep the faith and take it one game at a time."

Wrexham return to action at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday against a Stoke City side who have lost five consecutive away league games.

And Phillips believes the play-off picture could change once again at the weekend as Hull City host Birmingham at the same time Wrexham face the Potters.

"It's possible that the picture will change again on Saturday, Hull could lose and Wrexham could win at the Stok Cae Ras and suddenly everyone would think it's possible again," added Phillips.

Wrexham's Championship play-off hopes were heavily dented as they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since the opening two games of the 2025-26 campaign.

Phil Parkinson's outfit were thrashed 5-1 by Southampton and were then beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City.

It leaves the Red Dragons four points behind sixth-placed Hull City with just four matches remaining this season.

So we're asking Wrexham fans, do you think the Red Dragons will make the play-offs, or have they left themselves with too much to do?

Give us your verdict here.