Wrexham

With the side sitting in 18th place in the Championship after 13 games, Ian Hunt and Dylan Griffiths discuss Wrexham's faltering start to the season.

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Max Cleworth says he felt mixed emotions after making his long-awaited return from injury in Wrexham's 1-0 loss to Sheffield United.

The defender sustained a hamstring injury in the Red Dragons' 1-1 draw with Burnley at the Racecourse Ground on 8 September.

He missed six successive Championship matches but came off the bench for the second half of his side's underwhelming defeat by the Blades at Bramall Lane.

"Overall it's a bad evening," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"From a personal point of view, it was nice to be back out there after a frustrating break.

"We came here to win the game and we haven't done that, so it's a disappointing evening."

Phil Parkinson's men return to action against Championship leaders Middlesbrough on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT).

Boro are unbeaten in 10 league games, but Cleworth says the responsibility is on the Wrexham squad to improve their form having lost three of their past four games.

"There's no tougher game at the minute in the Championship (than against Boro)," he said.

"Results haven't been going how we'd like over recent times but it's down to us to put it right."

On the back of being sidelined for almost two months, academy product Cleworth praised Wrexham's medical staff for helping him return to action prior to the November international window.

"It's not been enjoyable. It's the first time in my career that I've had a prolonged period off the pitch," added the 24-year-old.

"It's made easier by the staff, they've helped me massively to get back quicker than expected so that's made a difference.

"But even in the good results and bad results, you want to be part of it, so it's been tough not to be involved."

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Phil Parkinson says Ben Sheaf has made "another step in the right direction" as the midfielder closes in on a return to full fitness.

The 28-year-old came off the bench in Wrexham's 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last time out having missed three successive matches with a groin issue.

Max Cleworth and George Thomason returned to training earlier this month after sustaining hamstring and thigh injuries respectively earlier on in the campaign.

The duo did not travel with the Red Dragons to Blackburn, although Parkinson suggested both players are close to being available for selection.

"Sheafo has got through the week, he's trained well, he's made another step in the right direction," Parkinson said ahead of his side's Championship contest with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

"Max and Tommo, they weren't with us (at Blackburn) on Saturday but they stayed here and trained. They've also had good weeks on the training pitch as well.

"We've had a good day today, we'll assess those two going into the weekend.

"At the very least, they strengthen up the numbers as we go into these three games in eight days."

Josh Windass, Liberato Cacace and Nathan Broadhead will miss the fixture with the Blades.

Phil Parkinson looks ahead to Wrexham's trip to 12th-placed Sheffield United on Friday, 30 October (20:00 GMT).

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Phil Parkinson said he was pleased to see former Wrexham midfielder Andy Cannon play a key role in Fleetwood Town's stunning League Cup success over Arsenal.

The 30-year-old came off the bench and netted in the penalty shootout as the Lancashire club stunned the reigning Premier League champions on Tuesday night to book their place in the quarter-finals.

"It's brilliant, and scoring his penalty. Andy's a great lad," said Parkinson.

"I feel for him a bit because his injuries derailed his Wrexham career, but he's rebuilding himself.

"He's a very good player and as I said when he left, what I loved about Andy, not just his football ability he gave us, but when he was out of the team injured, he was there every game wishing the lads all the best in the dressing room.

"He was a real part of the team whether he was in it or not and I'm so pleased that he's had a great moment last night."

Cannon joined Wrexham from Hull City in 2022 and was pivotal in each of the club's three promotions under Parkinson.

However, his Red Dragons career stalled after he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during his side's 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in February 2025.

He was released by Wrexham in the summer and joined League Two side Fleetwood on a three-year contract.

We asked Wrexham supporters if the Red Dragons' finishing is holding them back after manager Phil Parkinson said his side must be more clinical with their chances.

Here is what some fans had to say:

Phil: We have too many injured strikers. How can they recover and then be up to match speed on their return? Needed a decent striker in the summer instead of our obsession with wing-backs. We have created our own troubles and need a top striker next transfer window.

Huw: Poor passing is to blame for results to date. Better delivery will result in more goals. Every team has injuries but we miss [Josh] Windass greatly. Need to strengthen the attack in January. We will stay up but it is going to be a long season!

Jay: Feels like the fans have turned. Unfortunately feels like Parky (Parkinson) is on borrowed time now. In my opinion, £8m should buy a keeper who is far more consistent than [Anthony] Patterson, and £7.5m (plus add-ons) should buy a player who's had FAR more impact than [Nathan] Broadhead.

While our business in the National League, League One and League Two was excellent, it's been abysmal both seasons in the Championship.

Dafydd: A consistent finisher up top has been needed for the last four-five transfer windows. It should be the top priority in January, though finding such a striker at a reasonable price will prove a tough ask for Steve Nickson.

Philip: Hit and hope is Wrexham's strategy. Their build-up play is so predictable, teams find it easy to counteract this with pace. Some of the players are like headless chickens running after lost causes.

How many midfielders do you need who get in each other's way? They haven't learned from the West Ham defeat. If you think Parkinson will turn it around you're very much mistaken. Old school manager.

Mike: Strikers, played in their natural position or in a good partnership, will always find the net. We don't have a working partnership, aren't playing people where they want to be and have rarely created as many chances as we did at Ewood [Park]. Our problems are all over the pitch.

Lucy: Wrexham are looking at the wrong end to solve their woes. What needs fixing first and fast is their leaky defence. They concede goals for fun. After 12 games they have let in an average of 1.5 goals per game.

This means that on average they can only win a game if they score two goals. Their defence has taken the 0-0 and the 1-1 draws off the table. They have taken the 1-0 victory off the table.

If they fix things at the back they will start to accumulate more points. They will move up the table and teams they play will have less confidence as they will have to work harder to get a goal. Unless this changes Wrexham will continue to be in the lower half of the Championship rather than pressing for a play-off place. Yes, good teams score goals, but they're also parsimonious at the back.

Wrexham suffered a 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, but the scoreline only told part of the story.

The Red Dragons registered 24 shots and created a host of opportunities at Ewood Park, with Sam Smith, Kieffer Moore and Joe Worrall all going close after the break.

Manager Phil Parkinson said his side must be more clinical with the chances they create.

Are you concerned by Wrexham's lack of a cutting edge in front of goal, or is it only a matter of time before the chances start being converted?

Send us your views here.

Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must assess the quality of their end product following a goal-shy 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

The Red Dragons, who have lost three of their past six Championship matches, registered 24 shots against Rovers but only managed one on target.

Defeat leaves Wrexham 17th in the division, half a dozen points clear of the drop zone and also six points adrift of the play-off places.

Parkinson insisted his side must do better with the chances they create when they visit Sheffield United on Friday, 30 October (20:00 BST).

"We have to look at this performance, look at the quality of the crossing and why we didn't get enough first contacts on set plays," said Parkinson.

"We had nine. We had wide free-kicks. We had a few scrambles, but for the presence we had in that goal, we needed to do more."

According to stats, Wrexham are among the Championship's worst performers in goalscoring metrics.

Only three teams have averaged fewer than Wrexham's 3.4 shots on target per match, while their expected goals rate of 13.6 is the sixth-lowest in the division.

These stats are more concerning when you consider that the Racecourse side have kept only two clean sheets in 12 league fixtures.

"We had enough pressure today to produce more quality and test the keeper more than we did," added Parkinson whose side had scored four to beat Preston in their previous game.

"Football is about final-third end product. Last week we had it, today we couldn't find the moment.

"Football is about when the moments come. Can we show the clinical edge and at the very least make the goalkeeper work?

"I've got to reiterate that their defenders put their bodies on the line to block our shots, but we could have done better.

"If you look at the stats, 24 attempts and one on target. That's not enough. When we were in the final third, we were not good enough."

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Phil Parkinson confirmed Ben Sheaf has resumed full training ahead of Wrexham's Championship contest with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The midfielder made his long-awaited return to action in the Red Dragons' 2-1 win over Southampton on 19 September but missed the matches against Derby County, West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End due to a groin issue.

Long-term absentees George Thomason and Max Cleworth have also joined in with training this week, although they are unlikely to be available until after the November international break.

"Sheafo is back in training today, full training," Parkinson said.

"Thommo and Max did part of the session. So it's a huge lift for everybody to see those boys out there.

"It really thickens up the numbers in the squad and it's good to get those lads back on the training pitch."

Last season's top scorer Josh Windass was withdrawn after just 15 minutes of his side's 1-1 draw with Derby earlier this month due to an ankle injury.

It is an issue that has kept him out of the games against West Brom and Preston, and the 32-year-old is also set to miss the fixture with Blackburn this weekend.

Wales international Nathan Broadhead has not featured in any of Wrexham's past eight Championship matches and has been sidelined with a thigh injury since mid-September.

Liberato Cacace has not featured for Wrexham this term and is continuing to recover from his latest calf injury.

"Josh has got a boot on to protect his ankle at the moment," added Parkinson.

"I think it's at the weekend that comes off and then Kevin [Mulholland, head physiotherapist] and his team can then really start assessing the ankle and look to progress Josh.

"Broady is out on the grass still doing his fitness work. The next stage for him is striking the ball, because it was a thigh injury.

"Libby is in the gym at the moment but that's more of a long-term injury."

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Wrexham returned to winning ways with an impressive 4-1 victory over Preston North End last weekend.

Phil Parkinson's side face Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final four games prior to the November international break.

So what have you made of the campaign as a whole so far? And do you think the Red Dragons can now truly ignite their play-off bid?

Send us your views here.

Ian Hunt and Ian Mitchelmore on speculation around Wrexham's boss, and a crucial weekend win over Preston North End in the Championship.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was pleased with the "fighting spirit" his side showed to come back to draw 1-1 at Derby County.

Parkinson's side host West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday before Preston North End's visit to north Wales next Saturday.

What do you make of how things have evolved so far this campaign, and what lies ahead?

Let us know what you think by clicking here.

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Phil Parkinson praised Ben Whiteman's "most complete performance" for Wrexham after the midfielder scored his first goal for the club in a 4-1 win over former side Preston North End.

Whiteman, 30, was booed by Preston's travelling supporters at the Racecourse Ground following his controversial departure from Deepdale in August.

But the former Preston captain responded by scoring Wrexham's second goal in an emphatic victory.

"All you can do is do your talking on the pitch and he did that today," said Parkinson.

"It's probably his most complete performance he's had for us and I'm so pleased for him.

"He's a great lad, he cares a lot. It's a good day for Ben Whiteman."

Preston accepted a bid from Wrexham for Whiteman in August after the midfielder told then manager Paul Heckingbottom he had "played his last game" for the club.

"Ben at the time was told that if a bid came in, they'd respect his wishes in terms of he fancied a fresh start," Parkinson added.

"We put a bid in and they accepted it and that's it.

"It wasn't a money thing for Ben, I can assure you of that.

"He just had been at Preston a long time and he fancied a fresh challenge and that's the way football is."

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham's focus must be solely on their own performance as they look to return to winning ways against the Championship's bottom side Preston North End today (15:00 BST).

The Red Dragons head into the contest on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites have had more serious struggles this season, having gained just four of the 30 points on offer so far in the league.

And while there is some uncertainty over how North End will approach the match under new boss Graham Alexander, Parkinson feels Wrexham must concentrate on their own game.

"With Graham, he's played 3-4-3 at Bradford City, and he's set up that way straight away at Preston," said Parkinson.

"He had a lot of success at Bradford in terms of that shape.

"They were a bit unlucky against Millwall, and they got overpowered a bit against Birmingham.

"He's probably still getting to know all of his players and looking at their strengths and weaknesses.

"But I think from our point of view, whoever we're playing, whatever position they are in the league, it's about ourselves.

"Come five o'clock, the areas we've spoken about with the group, we want to see that improvement in our performance to give us the best chance of getting back to winning ways."

Parkinson has managed against Alexander - who led the Wrexham manager's former club Bradford to promotion from League Two in 2024-25 - on numerous occasions.

Ahead of the meeting between the sides at the Racecourse Ground, Parkinson praised Alexander for the work he did at Valley Parade.

"Graham's a top manager," said Parkinson.

"He had a couple of disappointing ones before he went to Bradford, but he did a brilliant job there, and he's very well respected for the job he did.

"He's left them top of the table, and him and his staff are great, but of course it's always competitive on the touchline.

"After the games, we've come across Graham and his staff a lot over the years, and they're good football people."