ไทย
English
中國人
Wrexham find themselves in mid-table in the EFL Championship as the first international break of the 2026–27 season arrives.
Phil Parkinson's men climbed to 14th place following an encouraging 2-1 victory over Southampton at the weekend, just their second win from the opening eight fixtures. The Red Dragons had little to argue about in their two losses, against Birmingham City and West Ham United, while they have shared the spoils in four of their matches so far.
Wrexham will be hoping the international break proves well-timed, giving them the opportunity to nurse key players back to fitness and begin climbing the standings.
In the meantime, here are five takeaways from the opening weeks of the season.
Striker Shortage
Wrexham maintained they were content with their attacking options during the summer window and chose not to add another forward as part of their $48 million overhaul. To be fair, Kieffer Moore has hit the ground running this season, but concerns are already mounting over their heavy dependence on him, much as was the case twelve months ago.
The Red Dragons have netted just nine goals this campaign, three of which arrived in a single game, with only five sides having scored fewer across the opening eight rounds. Wrexham also rank 17th in the Championship for expected goals (xG) this season and are underperforming that metric by 1.9 goals.
Keeping Moore fit gives them a reasonable shot at the playoffs, though that is far simpler in theory than in practice. He contributed 13 goals last season, yet only one arrived after the halfway point. A similar fade could be on the cards this time, especially if he gets little respite during the international break.
Defensive Improvement
It may seem absurd following the recent 6-0 thrashing by West Ham, but Wrexham have actually tightened up defensively this season. Despite keeping clean sheets in only two of their eight league outings, there is a sense they were unlucky not to add another against Cardiff City on the opening day and might have secured one against Watford had it not been for a single lapse in concentration.
That, naturally, carries little weight in the league standings, but at this stage it is about identifying which patterns are fleeting and which could develop into more serious problems. Even in the wake of the heaviest defeat of the Hollywood era, Wrexham still boast the eighth-best xG against figure in the Championship at 10.5, placing them one spot above Southampton and just behind West Ham.
Wrexham have shown marked improvement defending from open play compared to last season, with the primary concern being their susceptibility from set pieces. Only three clubs have conceded more set-piece goals than the four Wrexham have let in across their opening eight matches.
Winging It
Wrexham brought in seven players over the summer, and none have made quite the same impression as wide additions Jacques Ekomié and Issa Kaboré. While fellow recruit Danny Imray shone brightest in the early going, Ekomié has set the benchmark across his first six appearances with three goal contributions.
The most recent arrived in the weekend triumph over Southampton, when he battled relentlessly to conjure their winning goal from virtually nothing. Ekomié surged onto a flicked header before delivering a dangerous cross into the area that was turned into his own net by Southampton defender Keven Schlotterbeck.
Parkinson's side effectively operated throughout last season without a natural left wingback, and while George Thomason gave his all out of position, the difference Ekomié has made on the flank has been remarkable. With the Wrexham boss unlikely to alter his formation in the near future, having quality wingbacks is essential to making the system function.
In Parky They Trust
Parkinson faced considerable criticism in the aftermath of the 6-0 drubbing at the hands of West Ham, but Wrexham supporters responded emphatically with their passionate backing of their manager. The 58-year-old was cheered throughout the Racecourse Ground ahead of the weekend win over Southampton, and his name rang around the stadium at full time as fans lingered in yet another show of solidarity.
It was also timely that, in the days leading up to the match, a pre-recorded interview with co-owner Rob Mac was released in which he affirmed the manager had earned "a lot of wiggle room."
"Phil has shown over and over again that he can win at every level, so far. So I don't see why he doesn't have as much room as he can possibly have over the next few years to continue to prove it," Mac said.
Following another Parky masterclass that was so warmly embraced by the home faithful, it is difficult to imagine that wiggle room shrinking anytime soon.
Are Wrexham Actually Any Better?
The weekend win certainly boosted morale, but the central question surrounding Wrexham right now is whether they are genuinely improved from last season. The very fact that the question is being raised suggests the answer may be no.
Wrexham sat 14th on nine points after eight games last season and sit 14th on 10 points after eight games this season. In both instances, they are also just three points adrift of the playoff places, with the real examination set to come during the hectic festive schedule.
The Red Dragons achieved their finest-ever league finish last season, narrowly falling short of the playoffs. A similar outcome would not be a catastrophe by any means, but having invested $48 million over the summer, it remains a concern just how far behind the division's top sides they continue to be.