Phil Parkinson Has Set The Standard For Wrexham. Now Comes The Test Of Keeping It Up

Wrexham have given Phil Parkinson more than just a short break from pressure surrounding his tenure as Manager of the Red Dragons. The players have shown what level the team can reach. The challenge after the international break is to make that level the norm.

A 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers gave Wrexham four points from two tough home games. After the letdown at Sheffield United, these results brought back some confidence. Now, Parkinson’s players face a clear question: if they can play this well against the championship’s strong teams, how do they keep it up every week?

After the Wolves draw, Parkinson told Wrexham’s official website, “In terms of the honesty of the team, I thought that was ten out of ten today.”

He explained more than just effort. Parkinson stressed the need for focus and for everyone to do their job, both with and without the ball. What they talked about and practiced after losing to Sheffield United had to show up in the game.

Playing with emotion can lead to a positive result, but real progress means reacting well even when things aren’t going well. Adversity has let the side down this season, and they can’t keep getting a positive result followed by two or three poor performances and results. Building consistency and overcoming adversity has to be Parkinson’s top priority following the international break.

The win over Middlesbrough gave positives as to what the squad is capable of. George Thomason scored first on his return to the starting lineup, and then substitute Ollie Rathbone headed in the second. Parkinson’s changes made a direct impact, and Wrexham kept pushing after going ahead.

The stats back this up. Wrexham had 15 shots to Middlesbrough’s 12 and four on target compared to two, even though they only had 38% possession. These numbers show they can create chances without having most of the ball.

So, possession shouldn’t be the only way to judge Wrexham’s progress. Finishing has also been a concern, and given the latest injury worries, Parkinson will need to find new areas for those goals to come from.

Against Wolves, Wrexham needed something different. Lewis O’Brien replied to Adam Armstrong’s opening goal with a header from Issa Kabore’s cross. That quick response stopped the setback from turning into a long chase.

These two results each teach something. Against Middlesbrough, Wrexham turned a tough game into a win. Against Wolves, they bounced back after conceding and got a point. Both situations are likely to come up again this season. Parkinson hopes the break will help Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead, and Callum O’Hare get closer to full fitness. Having them back would give him more options, but the focus should stay on the team's reaction to adversity and building consistency, not just relying on individuals.

The next test is the trip to Lincoln City on November 21. Showing the same focus and organisation away from home would be a good sign that the team’s progress can continue on the road.

Wrexham have set a standard to follow. Now it’s up to Parkinson to make sure his players meet it, even when the situation, crowd, or opponents aren’t as motivating.