There’s nothing like a derby clash to get the blood pumping as Wrexham ‘welcomed’ Shrewsbury Town to north Wales for the first time in a little under 17 years.
Only Chester are considered bigger foes in these parts, so there was plenty to savour for the home fans as goals from Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and Jack Marriott settled a fiercely contested Anglo-Welsh clash.
The Athletic casts an eye over some of the big talking points in one of football’s less heralded, though no less contested, derby rivalries.
Possession proves no obstacle
Possession may well be nine-tenths of the law, if the old adage is to be believed, but Wrexham’s start to the season had proved that retaining the ball is not always the key to success.
In all four league matches before Shrewsbury’s visit, Phil Parkinson’s side had seen much less of the ball than their opponents. In the 2-0 win at Peterborough United, for instance, their share of possession stood at just 29.9 per cent, according to the BBC.
Things weren’t massively different when taking on Reading (32.5 per cent) or Bolton Wanderers (32.4 per cent), while even the opening day saw Wycombe enjoy the lion’s share of the ball at 55.3 per cent.
After collecting 10 points from a possible 12, Wrexham were expecting a very different challenge after Parkinson informed his side that Shrewsbury had sat off the ball when beating Leyton Orient on home soil a week earlier.
His words proved prescient, with the visitors clearly happy to cede possession. This was particularly the case in the opening exchanges when the scores were still level, with Wrexham’s possession in the opening 15 minutes standing at 69.6 per cent.
Last season, such dominance could be a problem. The only three times Wrexham dropped points at the SToK Cae Ras from Christmas onwards came when enjoying more of the ball — in the defeats to Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers, plus the goalless draw against Harrogate Town.
The challenge against Shrewsbury was to avoid a repeat. They did just that by remaining patient, a point underlined by the lovely passing move that led to Palmer breaking the deadlock on 16 minutes.
“I really enjoyed watching us come up with those solutions today,” says Parkinson about a game where his side ended up with 55.9 per cent of possession overall. “We did that by looking for the space on the pitch. Our centre backs, Tommy (O’Connor) and Max (Cleworth), stepped up with the ball and that was very important for us.”
Has Big Brother arrived in Wrexham?
George Orwell may not have been much of a sports fan, as is clear from him commenting in 1941, “It is war minus the shooting.”
But the English author of the dystopian novel 1984 on the perils of ‘Big Brother’ may well have had a wry smile over the police using face-scanning technology to prevent trouble between rival fans in Wrexham.
Forming part of a matchday policing operation for the first time in north Wales, Live Facial Recognition (LFR) enables officers to identify individuals in real-time by using biometric facial characteristics.
“It aims to keep the public safe by identifying serious offenders and protecting the vulnerable,” says Chief Superintendent Mark Williams.
The deployment of LFR in strategic — and signposted — positions around Wrexham underlines how high passions can run high in this particular derby. Last season, for instance, hooligans clashed in Shrewsbury two days before the FA Cup third-round tie between the two clubs.
Judging by the huge police presence across the city centre before and after kick-off, clearly no chances were being taken this time. Happily, the measures — which included a huge official escort back to Wrexham General railway station for 100 or so visiting fans — seemed to work, with the day passing peacefully.
The biggest flashpoint came on the pitch as Town midfielder Alex Gilliead pushed Ollie Rathbone in the back after play had been halted just before half-time for a foul.
James McClean got involved, the Wrexham captain pointing first towards Gilliead and then the tunnel, suggesting the pair might carry on their discussion during the interval.
Had the threat been carried through, it could have turned into a real video nasty.
Back at the top after a long break
Yes, we know it’s early. And, yes, most of Wrexham’s rivals near the top of the table were not in action due to international call-ups. But, still, there’s something special about the club sitting at the League One summit.
Not since the club’s old Second Division days ended in 1982 have they been this high in the football pyramid. To put this into context, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were top of the UK charts at the time with Ebony and Ivory, while a pint of beer to help drown the sorrows of relegation would have set supporters back around 60 pence.
🏴 @Wrexham_AFC in pole position!#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueOne pic.twitter.com/wYFhYJGR36
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) September 7, 2024
Wrexham had gone up as champions four years earlier, capping a glorious 1977-78 season that also brought a first appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals and a narrow 2-3 home loss to Arsenal.
Until Saturday, the closest the club had come to reclaiming pole position in the third tier had come in 2003-04, when Denis Smith’s side were in second place on goal difference after taking 10 points from the opening four games. Wrexham eventually finished 13th.
Parkinson’s challenge is to ensure this is no one-off. “It’s five games in, so you know it doesn’t count for a great deal,” he says. “But we have to be pleased.”
Derby day delight 😍
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/ujjxSjImYI
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) September 7, 2024
What next for Wrexham?
The EFL Trophy and a home clash with Salford City on Tuesday. Considering how Parkinson has stuck with his established players so far — eight of those involved against Shrewsbury also played in the National League — it will be a welcome opportunity to watch plenty of the summer signings.
Top photo: Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
This news item came from: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5744435/2024/09/07/wrexham-shrewsbury-palmer-parkinson-top-league-one/
