Wrexham defeated bottom-place Sutton United late on Tuesday to resume their automatic play-off push.
They had lost three straight games in League Two, which had dropped them to fourth place in the standings. However, they still have games in hand on the clubs in their immediate vicinity, so they are still in the running for the automatic spots.
Phil Parkinson’s gamble paid off against Sutton United
Tuesday night, as the clock ran out in the closing minutes of the match, Wrexham found themselves in a situation that was all too familiar from previous weeks.
The Red Dragons, who had only managed two goals in their previous three league games, would typically rely on their lucky striker Paul Mullin to put one in the back of the net. However, the 29-year-old was left off the pitch for the match at VBS Community Stadium. In south London, Steven Fletcher and January transfer Jack Marriott started, although both of last season’s heroes, Mullin and Ollie Palmer, were forced to watch from the sidelines until they were replaced in the 72nd minute.
Will Boyle’s first goal in stoppage time in the first half gave Sutton hope, but with five minutes remaining, top scorer Elliott Lee struck, squeezing the ball in at the near post for his 14th goal of the year.
Although starting Mullin off the bench was a risk, it turned out to be a wise move because of his impact off the bench, which was crucial in setting up the winning goal. However, a player with his calibre and experience will want to be featured right away.
Paul Mullin’s Wrexham statistics
After Mullin’s successful season (34 goals in all competitions) with Cambridge United in League Two, there were some questions about his move to the Racecourse Ground.
However, he joined Wrexham at the same time as Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the team in 2020, and the club’s new Hollywood owners enticed the 29-year-old to support their hopes for promotion and a return to the NFL. During that season, Ben Tozer and Ollie Palmer also joined, and they have since become legends in North Wales.
Mullin has established himself as a club legend in his three years at the club. His 38 goals in the most recent season put an end to Wrexham’s 15-year Football League exile, and he has an outstanding record of 86 goals in 117 games in all competitions.
An important decision to make ahead of Notts County reunion
For the first time since their epic match in the National League, Wrexham will welcome Notts County back to the Racecourse Ground this coming Saturday.
The Welsh team won the title on same pitch just over a year ago, when Ben Foster emerged victorious in the closing moments of a thrilling match by stopping Cedwyn Scott’s penalty.
The two teams will play again and both enter the match with much-needed victories: Parkinson’s team snapped a three-game losing skid away at Sutton United, and Stuart Maynard recorded his first victory as the Magpies’ manager with a 3-1 victory against Wrexham’s Welsh rivals Newport County.
Mullin presents a difficult choice for the Wrexham boss, who might decide to stick with the group that snapped their recent losing streak.
The striker hasn’t scored in his last four games, but this weekend appears like the best opportunity to get back on the scoreboard.
