Wrexham Turn Up the Heat Against Stoke City in Fierce Playoff Battle

Wrexham netted twice within 69 seconds to beat Stoke City 2–0 on Saturday, securing a crucial victory in their pursuit of an EFL Championship playoff spot.

Phil Parkinson rang four changes following the disappointing loss to Birmingham City, with key figures Arthur Okonkwo and Max Cleworth both left out, allowing veteran goalkeeper Danny Ward to make his first competitive start since August.

The Red Dragons came out of the blocks quickly and had an early penalty shout waved away when Sam Smith was brought down under pressure in the area. Stoke posed a threat when advancing up the pitch and came close when Lamine Cissé blazed over the crossbar.

Wrexham gradually took control of proceedings and converted their dominance into a goal just past the half-hour mark. Ollie Rathbone earned a corner after his low shot was cleared off the line, and George Thomason curled the set piece beautifully into the far corner.

Josh Windass claimed a touch on the first goal, but there was no disputing his contribution just 69 seconds later when he pounced on a defensive error by Aaron Cresswell and slotted past the advancing Gavin Bavunu to make it two.

Stoke emerged as the stronger side after the break and nearly pulled one back when Bae Jun-ho's powerful effort was blocked by Dan Scarr inside the box. Wrexham came close to a third when Smith headed over following a slick combination between Thomason and Windass, in what was an otherwise subdued second half.

Wrexham were nearly made to sweat late on when Cissé rattled the bar in the 89th minute, but they held firm to claim a vital three points in their playoff push — on the same day Hull City were pegged back to a 1–1 draw at home against Birmingham City.

Wrexham's Winners and Losers

Winner

Josh Windass reclaimed his spot in the starting eleven after being dropped against Birmingham City, and bolstered his Player of the Season credentials with his 14th goal of the campaign.

The 32-year-old orchestrated play in the forward line and was central to much of what Wrexham did effectively against Stoke City. His relaxed demeanour means he doesn't always receive the recognition he merits, but this performance was a timely reminder of his exceptional attacking quality.

Loser

Arthur Okonkwo will have been frustrated to lose his starting berth and could only watch as replacement Danny Ward delivered a composed and assured display between the posts. Ward had started the opening four games of the season before dislocating his elbow, and his aim will be to feature in the final four matches as well.

Wrexham Report Card vs. Stoke City (3-4-2-1)

A BIG THREE POINTS 🙌

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GK: Danny Ward—B+: Ward was an unexpected selection and vindicated his inclusion with a poised and confident showing. He was brought in as the number one goalkeeper last summer, and this was a reminder of why he arrived with such high expectations.

CB: Dom Hyam—B-: A solid return to the first team. Hyam was composed under pressure in the unfamiliar right center back position. The Scotland international provided vocal leadership at the back and helped maintain defensive solidity.

CB: Dan Scarr—B+: Scarr delivered a commanding, no-nonsense defensive display at the heart of the Wrexham defence. He made a crucial block to deny Bae in the area and cleared the subsequent corner.

CB: Callum Doyle—C: A below-par showing by his typically high standards. Doyle had plenty of possession but struggled to impose himself on the game as effectively as he has during his debut campaign.

RWB: Issa Kaboré—C: Looked lively when pushing forward and won a few dangerous free kicks. However, he didn't receive enough of the ball on the right flank in what was a relatively quiet outing.

CM: Matty James—C-: James was tidy in possession but was frequently bypassed in midfield due to limited mobility. He may still be short of full fitness following his recent recovery from injury.

CM: George Dobson—B-: A marked improvement after an inconsistent display against Birmingham City the previous week. Dobson pressed the Stoke midfield effectively and disrupted their rhythm, helping his team maintain control.

LWB: George Thomason—A-: He held his own defensively against Sorba Thomas while also posing a threat on the break. Thomason broke the deadlock with a stunning corner kick — the second time this season he has scored directly from one.

CAM: Josh Windass—A: He showed no hesitation in taking risks in the attacking third as Wrexham looked to unlock the resolute Stoke defence. There was some uncertainty over whether he touched the opener, but his second goal was beyond question.

CAM: Ollie Rathbone—B: An energetic presence in the Wrexham attack from start to finish. He won the corner that led to the opening goal and was a constant threat with the ball at his feet.

ST: Sam Smith—B-: His pace created difficulties throughout and he had an early penalty claim turned down. This was another tireless display in which he did the hard yards for his teammates in attack. Smith went close to adding a third in the second half.

SUB: Lewis O'Brien (73' for Rathbone)—C+: An energetic cameo off the bench. O'Brien was sharp in possession and had a strong penalty appeal when he went down under pressure in the Stoke City area.

SUB: Nathan Broadhead (78' for Windass)—C: He was the club's record acquisition last summer, but Broadhead is very much a fringe player on current form. He had little impact when introduced with the result already secured.

SUB: Kieffer Moore (78' for Smith)—B-: Moore had to be content with a place on the bench initially but made another respectable contribution upon entering the fray. He was a physical presence in his own penalty area and won several key aerial duels.

What's Next For Wrexham?

Wrexham return to action when they travel to face relegation-threatened Oxford United on Tuesday evening. The U's go into the game 22nd in the EFL Championship standings after suffering a 1–0 defeat to Derby County earlier in the weekend.

With only three matches remaining in the EFL Championship season, Wrexham are aware that there is little room for error if they are to close the two-point gap between themselves and Hull City in the final playoff position.