Wrexham breathed new life into their Sky Bet Championship play-off aspirations with a resounding 2-0 victory over Stoke at home. Following Hull's draw with Birmingham, Wrexham narrowed the gap to sixth place to just two points, with three games remaining.
The home side had been under pressure after consecutive losses to Southampton and Birmingham, but first-half goals from George Thomason and Josh Windass within a minute of each other lifted the mood at the SToK Cae Ras. For Stoke, this marked their sixth consecutive away defeat, leaving them in 17th place. Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson made four changes to his lineup, including the notable switch in goal, with Wales international Danny Ward replacing Arthur Okonkwo after recovering from an elbow injury. The hosts started with urgency, and an early penalty claim was denied after Sam Smith was pushed by Bosun Lawal.
Thomason's 31st-minute corner found its way into the net, and Windass capitalized on Aaron Cresswell's mistake to score his 13th league goal of the season just over a minute later. Stoke showed some fight after the break, but Wrexham had opportunities to extend their lead, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's panicked clearance and Sam Smith's header over the bar.
Stoke's late attempts to reduce the deficit were thwarted, with Lamine Cisse hitting the crossbar and Million Manhoef driving wide. Wrexham's Phil Parkinson expressed his aim to keep the play-off push alive, while Stoke's manager acknowledged the need for significant improvements.