Wrexham’s long-awaited return to the second tier of English football was finally achieved on Saturday. They welcomed West Bromwich Albion to their Racecourse Ground. The match marked Wrexham’s first home game in the Championship since their victory over Rotherham 3-2 on May 15, 1982. Wrexham put up a solid battle but were knocked out by a 2-0 scoreline. This defeat is their second in a row, as they lost their opening match to Southampton.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson only needed to make one blindingly obvious change to his lineup. He recalled club captain James McClean to face his old club. The home team came out like a house on fire. Only 13 minutes into the match, McClean had already been the first player to test West Brom’s keeper. He beat Ryan Barnett’s cross on the end of it but hit the target rescue wide of the far post.
West Brom Takes Control Early
Ryan Mason’s West Brom side seized the initiative from the outset. Tom Fellows had a big hand in laying the foundation for their first goal. He set up a beautiful chance for Isaac Price to finish. Price’s goal was significant as it added to his impressive start to the season, following his opening-day winner against Blackburn.
In a masterclass in game management, West Brom kept the heat on and searched for a second. It was almost an equalizer again, Darnell Furlong nearly rattling Wrexham’s cage with a stinging effort. As the game wore on, the pressure began to tell as Wrexham lost their nerve with big chances coming about on a consistent basis. McClean was at it again, forcing a good save from West Brom keeper Josh Griffiths. Unfortunately, his best shot hit the bottom of the post right before half time.
“But the goals we conceded were too soft, it’s as simple as that. We’ve got to find a tenacity and defend our box better.” – Phil Parkinson
Second Half Breakthroughs
In the second, Wrexham fought valiantly to come back. Striker Kieffer Moore made his debut, doing so despite fears that he might have sustained a long-term ankle injury in their season-opening match. Nathan Broadhead had arrived early when an injury to teammate Josh Windass forced him onto the pitch even sooner than anticipated.
West Brom’s dominance continued as they maintained their pressure on Wrexham’s defense. Substitute Jed Wallace had the desired effect, scoring with his first touch within 74 seconds of coming on. His stoppage time goal effectively sealed the victory for West Brom and exuded their quality in depth on the attack.
Ryan Mason commented on his team’s strong start to the season, emphasizing the importance of early results:
“Early results are important because we are seven weeks in on this new journey we are going on together. When you win games it accelerates the belief, and that’s our challenge to get everyone on board and keep progressing.” – Ryan Mason
Wrexham’s Struggles Continue
Even in defeat, Wrexham looked dangerous and impressive for long stretches. Manager Phil Parkinson lauded his team for their dominance in the central pitch. As he noted, they had issues with converting their opportunities and their defensive ferocity.
The match, somewhat unsurprisingly, drew a sellout crowd of 10,656 — a mix of local soccer heads and Hollywood stars with ties to the club. Their return excited the fan base. After waiting their entire lives for this moment in the Championship, the jubilation was electric.
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