Wrexham’s Promotion Bid Gains Momentum with Last-Minute Victory

Wrexham’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive promotion and a place in the Premier League is gaining momentum.

In a dramatic turn of events, Wrexham triumphed 3-2 against Queens Park Rangers, thanks to two late goals scored during stoppage time. This victory propelled Wrexham, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, into sixth place in the Championship as of Saturday.

The top two teams in the league secure automatic promotion, while those finishing from third to sixth will compete in the playoffs for an additional promotion spot. This marks the first occasion this season that Wrexham has found themselves within the playoff positions.

A late goal from Steve Cook seemed to secure the points for the home side. However, after Rangers defender Amadou Mbengue received a red card in stoppage time, Wrexham seized the opportunity to score two quick goals. Josh Windass equalized, followed by a dramatic winner from substitute Ollie Rathbone, whose powerful right-footed strike from 30 yards clinched the victory in the closing moments.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson remarked on the team’s swift response after conceding the late equalizer. “We smelt blood. You can feel that as a team sometimes,” he said. “Their player getting sent off may have influenced the outcome, but it felt like we were the team most likely to win.”

Having played 29 out of their 46 matches in this campaign—their first in the second tier since the 1980s—Wrexham’s ascent through the English football pyramid has been remarkable. This rise has been largely supported by the financial investment from Reynolds and McElhenney since they acquired the club in 2020, which is chronicled in the Emmy-winning series “Welcome to Wrexham.” Their journey began in 2022 with promotion from the non-league fifth tier.

Windass was among 13 players signed during a summer transfer window that reportedly exceeded $40 million, during which Wrexham routinely broke their transfer records.

Rathbone’s winning goal was his fifth in the last ten appearances. Parkinson praised the contributions of the two substitutes, highlighting Windass’s exceptional technique and Rathbone’s impressive goal-scoring record. “The professionalism within the squad was integral to our victory,” he noted. “Even though some players were left out, there was a remarkable sense of unity that shone through, particularly from Josh and Ollie.”

Parkinson also acknowledged the challenging conditions on the pitch, describing it as probably the worst in the division. “To secure three points away from home in such circumstances is a significant achievement for us.”