Could Wrexham really get promoted again?
The new season is just around the corner and the early predictions are rolling in.
It poses to be the toughest campaign yet, with Wrexham no longer a clear favourite for promotion, and many pundits predicting a season of stability after back-to-back promotions.
Still, the main question regarding Wrexham this season is, ‘can they really do it again?’
That question could well be answered in the coming months, beginning this Saturday when they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to the Racecourse Ground.
Optimism among the Wrexham faithful is understandably high that they can move up to the Championship by the season end. However, many pundits believe that may be unrealistic.
Here are some key fixtures and portions of the League One campaign that the Red Dragons will need to focus on in their quest to make the Championship.
Setting the tone
The first step to another promotion is a no brainer, Wrexham need to make a statement in the early portion of the season.
Notts County gave them a memorable run for their money in the National League, while Mansfield Town and Stockport County were worthy opponents in League Two, but the rest were often no match for the Welsh side.
That’ll rarely be the case in League One, and Wrexham will be tested early and often, facing two playoff sides from last season in both Peterborough and Bolton Wanderers this month.
It means Wrexham can prove they belong with the big boys off the hop this season, or perhaps realise how much work they still have to do.
Where Wrexham can make a move
There’s a clear point in the season where Wrexham can make a move up the League One table. From November until the end of 2024, there are plenty of winnable matches for Phil Parkinson’s men. They’ll play nine league fixtures over that span, six at home.
Only two of their opponents over that stretch (Barnsley and Blackpool) were top-10 finishers in League One last season, while Stockport and Mansfield Town are on their level. There are 27 points available to Wrexham in that two-month stretch.
The toughest stretches
When 2025 arrives, Wrexham will face some difficult outings beginning on New Year’s Day at Barnsley and ending with home fixtures against Birmingham City and Stevenage.
Early spring will be challenging, too, as they battle Bolton, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham, all within seven days at the beginning of March.
Where could Wrexham steal points?
A 46-match campaign is a long time, but don’t discount how valuable earning points in the early stages could be.
There’s so much adrenaline and excitement in the early portion of a season for newly-promoted sides which could enable Wrexham to get something at Bolton, Peterborough or Birmingham. Championship-relegated Huddersfield won just six home matches last season, with Rotherham only claiming five home triumphs and failing to win once as the visitors.
If Wrexham can claim some points on those back-to-back fixtures in October against those aforementioned sides, things could be looking up for them.
What Wrexham must avoid?
Last season, Parkinson’s side dropped eight points as the visitors when leading in the second- half, while they also claimed a draw at Mk Dons despite scoring first. Wrexham cannot let those kinds of opportunities slip in League One.
Put all of those mentioned ingredients together, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see Wrexham in the Championship in 2025-26.
