WREXHAM START JUSTIFIES PUNDIT'S PROMOTION CHALLENGE PREDICTION

Wrexham will look to maintain their unbeaten start to League One against Reading this weekend, with one former player already convinced they will be promotion contenders.

Phil Parkinson's side face the Royals at the Racecourse after an opening day win against Wycombe Wanderers marked their first game at this level in 19 years.

They followed that up with a creditable goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers, the first time last year's play-off finalists had been held at home in 29 fixtures.

Not since a 4-0 defeat by Wigan on 19 August 2023 had Bolton been shut-out at the Toughsheet Stadium - almost one year exactly since Sunday's stalemate.

It did mean Wrexham had to show their defensive side at times, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo coming in for praise.

The Hollywood-owned Red Dragons will be expected to be more of a threat back in north Wales, even against a Reading team who have also picked up four points from their first two games.

But former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips says Wrexham's start has shown why he thought a third straight promotion is not out of the question.

And he claims their "different" display to restrict a side who were the second-highest scorers in the third tier last term only adds to his confidence.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Sport, Phillips said: "It’s not the Wrexham that we’ve come to be familiar with in the way they go away and create chance after chance, it was a different type of game.

"They’re playing against a top League One side who have come close on a number of times over the past two seasons and, sometimes you have to accept playing a different way; I’m sure the 4,000 travelling fans accepted it as well.

"We all want to see them winning every game, but it’s not going to happen – certainly not this season in the division they’re in - but it could be a valuable point.

"It’s proven to me they can compete with the best in the division and it hasn’t changed my view that Wrexham are going to be one of the contenders themselves this season to win promotion."

2024-08-21T17:22:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd