PHIL PARKINSON wanted his players to be more clinical in front of goal and he was delighted with the response as Wrexham registered a huge win in the race for promotion.
Wrexham only took one point from the previous two games, both at The Racecourse, with Parkinson’s men having 25 attempts on goal in the 1-0 derby defeat to Tranmere Rovers the previous weekend but only four on target.
It was a different story in blustery conditions against lowly Grimsby with Wrexham getting just four shots away in the first-half but the Reds scored three times with Andy Cannon’s double followed by Paul Mullin’s 18th goal of the campaign to leave the Reds well in control.
“It was important that we didn’t let the frustration of the Tranmere result affect us, and have an understanding there were lots of good elements to our play but a higher percentage of our decision making in the final third needed to be better and we did that,” said Parkinson.
“Our ratio against Tranmere wasn’t where it needed to be and we addressed that in training.
“The concentration levels were better, the lads have really focussed on what we needed to do and it is a great response.
“First half was outstanding.
“The conditions were very difficult, a blustery wind is always going to impact on the game but I thought the professionalism and game management was very good, particularly in the first half.
“We said to the lads that it was going to be a first and second ball game and making the right decisions in the conditions, but when the moments came it was important that we showed the quality we did to create those chances, and ultimately take them.
“It is a great win for us.”
Cannon opened the scoring after just five minutes with a fine finish from outside the area and the midfielder made it 2-0 following an excellent counter-attack move involving Mullin and Tom O’Connor.
Top scorer Mullin grabbed Wrexham’s third just before the break, finding the net with a brilliant volley to take his account for the season to 18 goals and 97 for the club.
“We changed the shape slightly,” added Parkinson.
“We put Elliot Lee in behind the front-two because I knew Grimsby had worked very hard in their preparation to stop us and it really worked for us.
“It gave us a different dimension.
“Tom is great at just picking up pieces and filling the holes when other players go forward and we scored some great goals.”
