A 2-0 victory at home against Stoke has reignited Wrexham's hopes for a Sky Bet Championship play-off spot. Following Hull's draw with Birmingham, Wrexham has narrowed the gap to sixth place to just two points with three games remaining. Initial anxiety at the SToK Cae Ras, stemming from consecutive losses to Southampton and Birmingham, dissipated with first-half goals from George Thomason and Josh Windass, scored just 69 seconds apart. For Stoke, this marked their sixth consecutive away defeat, dropping them to 17th place.
Wrexham's manager, Phil Parkinson, made four changes to the lineup, including the return of Wales international Danny Ward in goal, after back-to-back defeats. The breakthrough came when Thomason's corner sailed over the head of Stoke's goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, and into the net, with Windass attempting to ensure it crossed the line. Shortly after, Windass scored his 13th league goal of the season, capitalizing on a mistake by Aaron Cresswell.
Despite Stoke showing ambition in the second half, Wrexham maintained their lead, although Stoke came close to reducing the deficit when Lamine Cisse struck the crossbar. Wrexham's Phil Parkinson expressed his team's determination to take their play-off hopes to the wire, emphasizing the need for accountability and improved performance levels. Meanwhile, Stoke's season continues to disappoint, with the manager acknowledging the need for significant improvements.