Wrexham Defeats Stoke City 2-0, Boosts Play-off Hopes
Wrexham secured a 2-0 home win over Stoke to revive their Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes. The victory reduced the gap to sixth place to two points with three matches remaining.
George Thomason and Josh Windass scored inside the first half. The goals arrived just 69 seconds apart.
Match details
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson made four changes after consecutive defeats. The most notable switch was in goal, with Wales international Danny Ward starting ahead of Arthur Okonkwo.
Ward returned after dislocating an elbow in August. He had not featured since that injury.
Early in the game there were appeals for a penalty when Sam Smith went down under a challenge from Bosun Lawal. Referee Adam Herczeg declined to award a spot kick.
Thomason robbed Sorba Thomas and advanced 50 yards before testing goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. Wrexham’s progress was briefly halted by a well-timed Stoke offside trap.
George Dobson’s free-kick caused danger after Lawal failed to clear. Ollie Rathbone saw his effort scrambled off the line by Ben Pearson.
Thomason’s 31st-minute corner sailed beyond Bazunu and crossed the line, with Windass appearing to help it over. Windass then capitalised on an Aaron Cresswell mistake a minute later to make it 2-0.
Second half
Stoke pushed for a way back into the match after the break. Dan Scarr blocked a goalbound effort from Bae Jun-ho.
Wrexham threatened again when Thomason cut inside to deliver a dangerous cross. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s hurried clearance struck Sam Smith and bounced to safety.
Smith later headed over following a Thomason and Windass combination, when Bazunu failed to hold a cross. Stoke came closest late when Lamine Cisse hit the crossbar.
Million Manhoef then missed a further chance, ending Stoke’s hopes of a late comeback. The defeat marked their sixth successive away loss.
After the game
Parkinson said the squad must keep fighting and not hand a play-off spot to rivals. He welcomed the result and noted the bonus of Hull’s draw with Birmingham.
Parkinson added that Wrexham must maintain performance levels as they head to Oxford for the next game. He urged accountability across the squad.
Stoke manager Mark Robins blamed two costly moments for the defeat. He warned that changes are needed and vowed to address problems over the summer.
Robins called this a serious moment for the club. He said he would tackle the issues and set the team on firmer ground.
Wrexham Defeats Stoke City 2-0, Boosts Play-off Hopes was the key outcome at Cae Ras. Filmogaz.com provided this match report.
