Wrexham steady season after early turbulence, injuries and off-field disruption
Wrexham have recovered from a difficult run with four points from Middlesbrough and Wolves, but injuries, two ineligible-player fines and a CEO change have marked their Championship campaign.
Wrexham have stabilised their Championship season after a testing opening third, responding to three defeats in four matches by taking four points from home games against Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Phil Parkinson's side beat Boro 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with Wolves, entering the final international window of 2026 in better spirits. Wrexham sit six points outside the play-off places and eight clear of the relegation zone.
There have been clear positives. Wrexham's expected goals faced of 18.17 is the fourth-best in the division, and they have made just one error leading to a goal, joint-best in the Championship. Kieffer Moore has five goals and two assists, outperforming his xG of 3.23 by 1.77, and has won 68 aerial duels. Summer permanent signings including Jacques Ekomie, Issa Kabore, Ben Whiteman, Joe Worrall and Callum O'Hare have shown signs of settling.
The attacking numbers are less encouraging: only five teams have a lower xG total than Wrexham's 16.80, only three have fewer than their 50 shots on target, and their four through balls are joint-lowest in the division. Home defeats by Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion disappointed, while the 6-0 loss at West Ham United was a low point. After the Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United defeats, former Wales international Nathan Blake suggested Wrexham were losing their fear factor and risked becoming ordinary. Parkinson said he and his players would not shy away from criticism, and Lewis O'Brien described a difficult post-Blades debrief in which the squad had to look at themselves.
Injuries have compounded the club's difficulties, along with off-field issues: Wrexham have been fined twice for fielding ineligible players, and chief executive Michael Williamson departed last week, with Shaun Harvey taking over as acting CEO. Parkinson acknowledged such things happen at football clubs but said this spell had been particularly disjointed.
Ben Sheaf, Max Cleworth and George Thomason have returned recently, and Nathan Broadhead is closing in on a comeback, though the availability of Josh Windass, Callum O'Hare and Liberato Cacace remains unclear. Sam Smith is set to miss the rest of the season and will undergo surgery after a serious knee injury at Sheffield United, likely prompting a January search for another forward, with Bailey Cadamarteri the only other option behind Moore. Davis Keillor-Dunn could be recalled from his loan at Sheffield Wednesday, where he has scored five in 11. Supporters will hope the recent upturn continues.
Image: PA Media / BBC Sport
