The January Review
Well, where do we start here, then?
This could be a momentous year in the history of Wrexham Football Club, and it certainly started in fitting style with a bumper month of mayhem.
There have been crucial victories in the National League, a visit from Ryan Reynolds, and two FA Cup ties that will be remembered for a very long time.
Wrexham have gone global with their coverage, and plenty of rival fans simply can’t stand it. Even after a few injury blows, the month ended on a high with the deadline day arrival of Eoghan O'Connell, another reason to be excited about the future.
Here is our review of January.
Results
Solihull Moors 1-2 Wrexham (Cybulski 90+1’ - Tunnicliffe 11’, O’Connor 65’)
Coventry 3-4 Wrexham (Sheaf 36’, Gyokeres 69’, Palmer 76’ - Dalby 12’, Lee 18’, O’Connor 45+6’, Mullin 58’)
Wrexham 2-1 Bromley (Mullin 45’, Jones 73’ - Whitely 33’)
Altrincham 2-2 Wrexham (4-3 on penalties) (Baines 9’, Goodson 89’ - Bickerstaff 24’, 27’)
Maidstone 2-3 Wrexham (Barham 72’, 79’ - Young 29’, Mullin 59’, Hayden 90+1’)
Gateshead 0-3 Wrexham (O’Connor 61’, Palmer 67’, Mullin 90+2’)
Wrexham 3-3 Sheffield United (Jones 50’, O’Connor 61’, Mullin 86’ - McBurnie 2’, Norwood 65’, Egan 90+5’)
Best Moment
We have been absolutely spoiled this month. The manner of our wins against Bromley and Maidstone made this feel like it could finally be our season, but they have been eclipsed by our cup heroics.
That away end at Coventry was just about the loudest we have ever heard, but even that was beaten by the atmosphere at the Racecourse for the FA Cup epic against Sheffield United.
The overriding feeling has been pride. Wrexham is a team, and a community on the rise, with the genuine belief that our best years are yet ahead of us.
We used to dream of times like this, and now we are living in them.
Worst Moment
John Egan’s late header was a real kick in the teeth, but the injuries to Jordan Tunnicliffe and Aaron Hayden hurt the most.
Wrexham have already responded by signing O'Connell from Charlton, another statement of real intent, but there is always a lingering feeling of dread when any key player is injured, never mind two.
It’s been a brilliant season so far, and it would be a huge shame if those lofty ambitions were unravelled by untimely injuries.
Player of the Month
I think a lot of us owe Tom O’Connor a massive apology. It has been a year since he joined the club from Burton, and it is safe to say it’s taken a while for him to settle.
The 23-year-old was given little help by being moved around the pitch to fill in wherever we needed, and struggled for consistency when being thrown into matches to disrupt an already settled midfield three.
O’Connor has settled now, Phil Parkinson has found out the best way to use him, and the Irish midfielder has been an absolute revelation.
He finished the month with four goals, but most impressive was the way he, rather ironically, stole the show with his position switch against Sheffield United.
O’Connor is the type of tidy midfielder you rarely see at this level, and now that he has adapted to his surroundings he is taking the National League by storm.