Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer has worked hard on his fitness

OLLIE PALMER has worked hard on his fitness and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by manager Phil Parkinson.

Wrexham Manager Wants His Team To Thrive On Away Day Atmosphere

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crawley Town, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has called for his team to make the most of away games.

The Reds’ gaffer knows that the tale behind the recent rise of Wrexham, alongside their Hollywood owners, means that bumper crowds are expected when on their travels.

Of course, this also includes the large number that follow the team from their own fanbase, giving each League Two game a Cup like atmosphere almost.

Boss Wants More From Away Trips

The Broadfield Stadium, home of Crawley, will be near capacity as the home side are enjoying a surprisingly good start to the season, so Parkinson wants his players to start turning some drawn games into wins and use the crowd to their advantage. They have three draws from their five away days, with a win and a loss.

When speaking to the Leader, Parkinson said: “We have worked so hard as a club to get to places like this, better stages for our fans to come and see us. It is important that we are shoulders back and we go and relish these games we play in. We have come a long way from two years ago running out at Aldershot on a Tuesday night in front of a thousand people.

When Wrexham are in town and there is a sell-out, we had it the last two years in the National League and this is no different. Every game is going to be like that and we have got to be ready for it.”

Despite a start to the season where Wrexham were conceding far too many goals, they have since gone on a run that has steadied themselves in the top half of the table and sit just six points behind last year’s promotion rivals Notts County, who currently occupy the top spot in the division.

Big Target

Coming into this campaign, Parkinson knew that they were the number one target for everyone to knock off their lofty perch.

Wrexham were also one of the first teams that opposition fans would’ve looked for when the fixtures were released, owing to their new star status as a club.

Speaking again tothe Leader, Parkinson commented on how tough away fixtures have been for Wrexham since promotion to League Two.

He said: “Away games are tough. All home teams start quick and we have got to be ready for that. You can’t have 6/10 performances; you have got to be right up there. But we are adapting well, we have only lost twice this season.”

Writer’s View

Phil Parkinson has arguably the best and worst job in League Two. The pressure of managing a side with huge expectations, with camera crews following every move, will have its good and bad moments.

If he can get his side to take inspiration from the large crowds that inevitably follow the media circus around the country and have the results to match, then there really should be no stopping them