Lots of late goals and comebacks for Wrexham this season
RYAN REYNOLDS and Rob McElhenney have urged supporters not to leave Wrexham matches early so they don’t miss late goals and the Hollywood stars aren’t wrong!
Of all teams in the top four tiers, Wrexham and Leicester City have scored the most goals between 75-90-plus minutes this season.
Phil Parkinson’s League Two outfit and the Foxes, who are top of the Championship, have both found the back of the net 10 times in 2023-24 once the clock has passed the 75th minute mark.
Oxford are next with nine goals, followed by Barrow on eight.
There have been no shortage of late goals and comebacks since Parkinson took charge of the club nearly two-and-a-half years and that has continued on Wrexham’s return to the Football League following a 15-year absence, especially in home matches.
The latest fightback was in Saturday’s showdown against Salford City at The STóK Cae Ras which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Reds
Trailing two-nil, leading scorer Elliot Lee reduced the deficit before the break with his eighth goal of the campaign and Steven Fletcher levelled after 88 minutes before fellow-substitute Jordan Davies grabbed the winner just 60 seconds later.
There was a remarkable match against Swindon Town on August 19.
It didn’t end with three points but the 5-5 draw in north Wales felt like a win!
Wrexham trailed 4-1 at the break and were 5-3 down midway through the second half.
However, James Jones pulled a goal back in the second minute of stoppage-time before Lee equalised in the sixth.
Reds’ supporters were given more late entertainment at home to Doncaster Rovers on September 9.
After taking the lead, Wrexham were pegged back by Rovers and the game was heading for a draw but Lee struck in the 88th minute to secure a 2-1 victory.
Wrexham had to come from behind and salvage a point at the death when Crewe Alexandra were the visitors on September 30.
Although the Reds went 3-1 down in the second half, Paul Mullin pulled one back and Fletcher’s first goal for the club in the 96th minute earned a 3-3 draw.
Lee also scored in the 85th minute against Walsall at home on August 15 but Wrexham were already well in control by then and coasting to a first league win of the campaign as they triumphed 4-2.
It was the same when Lee netted Wrexham’s final goal on 79 minutes to clinch a 3-0 home success over Grimsby on September 16.
Not all late goals have led to a positive result.
Davies and Anthony Forde fired home in the final 10 minutes against MK Dons but Wrexham suffered a 5-3 defeat on the opening day.
Co-chairmen Reynolds and McElhenney have told fans on Twitter not to leave games early because of the late drama and Parkinson is proud of his players’ never-say-die attitude.
“We never give in and that’s a great trait to have. There is a lot of belief in the lads,” said the Reds’ boss.
“Teams come and stand strong against us but we have got the ability to wear them down.
“That happened in the National League as well.
“It is a balance of the relentlessness of the players and the physical ability of the team but also the options off the bench.
“We are pleased with that. Football is a game which you have got to play until the final whistle; it is an obvious thing to say but it is important.
“MK Dons were 2-0 up against Barrow at the weekend, the injury-time board was put up and they ended up drawing 2-2.
“You have always got a chance as long as there is time left.”
