Wrexham

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Boss Phil Parkinson believes Arthur Okonkwo delivered his best performance of the season so far in Wrexham's 1-1 draw with Derby County.

The goalkeeper has started three successive Championship matches for the Red Dragons following the injury sustained by Wales international Danny Ward in the 2-0 win at Millwall in late August.

The 24-year-old was alert to deny both Max Johnston and Carlton Morris in quick succession in the second half as Wrexham's draw stretched their unbeaten run across all competitions to three matches.

"We've got to remember [Okonkwo's impact] because as much as we're saying we're disappointed we haven't won, Arthur's pulled off two great saves," said Parkinson.

"He's a player who has grown into the division. He didn't get the number one jersey at the start because I felt Wardy was more ready.

"But Arthur is now improving game by game, and that was certainly his best display. I'm pleased for him."

The draw means Wrexham have collected eight points from a possible 21 in the Championship so far this season.

They take on Leicester City on Tuesday night (19:45 BST) and then host Birmingham City three days later (20:00 BST) in their final fixture before the penultimate international break of the year.

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Boss Phil Parkinson feels Wrexham are finding consistency in the Championship after their controlled showing in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Derby County.

Lewis O'Brien's 59th-minute header at the Stok Cae Ras was cancelled out by Ben Brereton Diaz's stunning strike as the points were shared in north Wales.

But the draw with the Rams meant Wrexham are unbeaten in three matches across all competitions, and Parkinson believes his side - who had more possession, shots and shots on target against Derby - are showing signs of growth in the second tier.

"If you look at the run we've had, the Preston win, the Millwall win, we lost to QPR then we've won at Norwich and on Tuesday (against Reading) and drawn today, we're definitely seeing some consistency in our play," said the Wrexham boss.

"We're definitely learning as a team. The lads who have come up with us are learning about the demands of the Championship.

"We're all so disappointed we haven't won because the crowd were brilliant for us today.

"I've got to thank them for that because that atmosphere today was where we need it to make it an intimidating place for the opposition to play.

"I thought the crowd really played their part and I'd have loved to have rewarded them with a win."

Issa Kabore registered a third assist in just his second appearance since joining Wrexham on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

And Parkinson hailed the Burkina Faso international as a "great signing" following his impressive home debut.

"Issa was brilliant again today," said Parkinson.

"It's his quality, but he fights for every ball, he gets back quickly, he's a good defender and that was a goal that will be up there with the contenders for one of the best goals in the Championship today.

"He plays with a real heart and commitment. When we watched him, I really liked that about him.

"He runs back as quick as he goes forward. He's tenacious, he wants to win and he's a great signing for us."

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Phil Parkinson admits he has a number of selection dilemmas to consider as Wrexham return to Championship action against Derby County on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The 57-year-old has seen the likes of Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and George Thomason return from injury of late to further bolster his squad options.

Ollie Rathbone is also in line to feature in a matchday squad for the first time this season following a lengthy spell out due to an ankle injury.

"Ollie's in the squad so we'll make a decision on him," said the Wrexham manager.

"There's good competition for places and I feel there's a real togetherness in the group forming.

"Competition is good, but it's always about supporting the player who is playing instead of you on a matchday which the lads who didn't start on Tuesday (against Reading) certainly did, and likewise the lads who travelled down to Norwich as well. That's key.

"So some selection dilemmas, but we'll think long hard and hopefully get the team right."

The Rams sit 22nd in the table having claimed just one win from their opening six Championship matches this season.

And Parkinson says he has been preparing his squad to cope with the physicality of John Eustace's side as the Red Dragons go in search of a first home league win this term.

"John did well last year, he left Blackburn to go to Derby and kept them in the division," added Parkinson.

"This year, a mixture really. They'll be disappointed to lose at Preston I would imagine, but the game before that they went to West Brom and won 1-0.

"So they're a competitive Championship team as you'd expect for a club of the standing of Derby County.

"It's going to be an interesting game, they're a physical team and we've got to be ready to stand up to that, and we will be."

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It's a first trip across the border into Wales this season for Derby County as they look to climb out of the relegation places with a win at Wrexham on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Wrexham are yet to win at home this season having picked up one point at the Racecourse Ground.

Derby County were edged out 1-0 by Preston North End previously, while Wrexham beat Norwich City 3-2 at Carrow Road.

• This is the first league meeting between Wrexham and Derby since a 1-1 draw in the second tier in April 1982.

• Derby won their last meeting with Wrexham in all competitions, beating them 3-1 in an FA Cup third round tie in 2007 thanks to an Arturo Lupoli hat-trick.

• Wrexham have lost two of their three home league games this season (D1), as many as they had in their previous 27 (W20 D5).

• Derby have lost just one of their last six away league games (W3 D2), going down 3-1 at Stoke on the opening weekend this season.

• Wrexham have faced more shots (115) and have a higher xG against (14.9) than any other side in the Championship this season. However, Derby have had the fewest shots (42) and the lowest xG (4.5) of any side this term.

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Ollie Rathbone has resumed full training with Wrexham following a lengthy period on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

The 28-year-old is yet to feature under Phil Parkinson this season as a result of the injury he sustained in the pre-season fixture with Sydney FC in July.

But Parkinson says Rathbone - scorer of eight League One goals for the Red Dragons last season - is closing in on a return to action as Wrexham prepare for Championship matches against Derby County, Leicester City and Birmingham City before the penultimate international break of 2025.

"Ollie Rathbone has trained fully today (Tuesday) for the first time and looked great," said the Wrexham boss.

"That's a huge bonus for us. You add his energy and quality into that group, the squad then starts to look where it needs to be."

Parkinson added: "To get Ollie's personality back on the training ground is a huge lift for us.

"He was outstanding for us last year and he's a player who's played in the Championship and done well.

"He had a tough season with Rotherham, his second season when they were in a bit of freefall, but the season before that he did well.

"So he's played at the level, and it's great to have him back."

Parkinson is blessed with a wealth of midfield options at present having added the likes of Lewis O'Brien, Ben Sheaf and George Thomason to his ranks during the summer transfer window.

And the manager feels his side will be in a far better position to compete in the second tier given the improved strength-in-depth he now has at his disposal.

"The options in the midfield area are getting stronger, but they needed to be," added Parkinson.

"It's a tough division and the physical demands are a lot higher than where we've been before.

"The physical data and how high that was against Norwich, it was right up where it needs to be for a good Championship side.

"We're working towards that, the training is structured to prepare the players for that."

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Nathan Broadhead struck both goals against Reading to help fire Wrexham into the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1977.

But the Wales international's household may well be split when Phil Parkinson's side host Cardiff City in round four next month.

Prior to the draw being made, the 27-year-old admitted he wanted Wrexham to be paired with the Bluebirds in the next round as his father supports Brian Barry-Murphy's side.

"I'd love Cardiff. My old man's a Cardiff fan," Broadhead said.

"I don't know what side he'd be on."

The former Ipswich Town man got his wish - with the pair set to meet at the Stok Cae Ras during the week beginning 27 October.

It ensures at least one Welsh team will reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

Given Swansea City's progress, the next round will see three Welsh teams feature in the last-16 for the first time in the competition's history.

And Broadhead feels the cup progress further demonstrates how Welsh football is in a good place at present.

"It just shows where Welsh football's going," he said.

"We're making steps, Craig Bellamy, Wrexham, I'm happy."

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

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Wrexham have announced that initial work on the new Kop Stand at the Stok Cae Ras will begin later this month.

The club have appointed McLaren Construction Midlands and North under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement for the work.

Work on the new stand was originally due to begin in 2023 but was delayed because of what the club called "additional complications".

Revised designs for the new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand were presented to Wrexham County Borough Council earlier this year, which were subsequently approved.

In July, the club submitted a further planning application for the installation of up to 2,250 further seats in the new stand.

That would take the potential capacity to 7,750 and take the overall capacity of the Stok Cae Ras to just over 18,000.

The new stand, along with other works planned at the stadium, will make Wrexham's ground fully compliant with Uefa category 4 stadium standards.

The work at the Stok Cae Ras, announced as one of the host venues for next summer's Uefa European Under-19 men's finals, is scheduled to be completed during the 2026-27 season.

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson said: "The new Kop Stand will be the heart of the reimagined stadium - increasing capacity, enhancing the experience for fans, and anchoring our place in our home city and as part of the wider Gateway Partnership regeneration plans."

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts is struggling understand talk of Phil Parkinson being under pressure at Wrexham after their Carabao Cup win over Reading.

Nathan Broadhead's double saw Wrexham book their place in the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 1977-78.

It is now four victories in the past five matches in all competitions for Wrexham, who have won league games at Norwich City and Millwall and a second-round cup tie at Preston North End.

Their one defeat during that sequence was at home to Queens Park Rangers, after which one report claimed Wrexham's hierarchy were considering the future of manager Parkinson.

"They've won four of their last five games and people say he (Parkinson) is under pressure? That's bonkers," Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru.

"There's nothing better than winning games, it lifts confidence.

"Wrexham have a massive game at home to Derby on Saturday now as they are still looking for their first league win at home this season. Things are starting to click for Phil Parkinson and Wrexham."

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Manager Phil Parkinson felt "match-winner" Nathan Broadhead's brace for Wrexham against Reading was the perfect reward for the Wales forward after his "best week" in training.

After an injury-hit start, the 27-year-old ignited his Wrexham career with two goals in the second half against the Royals as the Red Dragons sealed their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1977.

And Parkinson says the 14-cap international deserved his time in the limelight, given he is carrying the weight of being the club's record signing and being from the nearby area on his shoulders.

"He's a match-winner, there's no doubt about that," said Parkinson.

"You could see in the first half he was probably trying a bit too hard.

"Second half we got him the ball and I think that's key, we've got to trust him with the ball and serve him in those pockets of space, because there's not many players that have got his quality.

"So I'm really pleased for him. It's always tough when you come to a new club, there's expectations on you, and not just that, your hometown club as well.

"I'm just so pleased for him. I felt last week in training was his best week since his injury and he's taken that into tonight's game with two really good goals.

"The first one's a real quality finish but the second one, that's a great header. That'll do him the world of good.

"I think everybody saw tonight, in the second half, when you give him the ball, trust him with it and he'll make things happen."

The 2-0 victory over Reading was Wrexham's fourth triumph in five matches across all competitions, while they kept a second clean sheet of the campaign in the process.

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Wrexham face Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, but the last meeting between the sides in March came amid a backdrop of turmoil and protests.

Reading fans protested against the club's then owner, Chinese businessman Dai Yongge, who had presided over a turbulent time for the Royals.

Yongge's controversial tenure came to an end in the summer when American businessman and lawyer Rob Couhig completed his takeover of the club.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, a former Reading player, said counterpart Noel Hunt and his team deserved credit for their efforts under difficult circumstances.

"Reading was a club in turmoil last year and Noel and his staff I thought did a great job to keep it going, they really did," Parkinson said.

"One thing Reading have had is a strong academy and they've produced a lot of players so through those times of turmoil; they've been able to give a lot of young players opportunities.

"Sometimes in financially difficult periods it's the young players who keep the club going.

"So yes, pleased the club's been taken over and they're looking to build back because Reading's another club who've been in the Premiership a couple of times and can see themselves at the very least a top Championship side."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson took time out from preparations for Tuesday's EFL Cup tie against Reading to visit the Wrexham Miners Rescue Station, located a stone's throw away from the Stok Cae Ras.

Parkinson visited the community and education hub on what is a significant day in the area's history – the 91st anniversary of the Gresford Colliery disaster.

In September 1934, 266 men and boys died following a huge explosion about 1.3 miles (2.1km) from the bottom of the Dennis shaft.

Many had been working a double or extra shift at Gresford Colliery so they could have a day off to watch a Wrexham game.

"It's very important that those people who sadly lost their lives and all the families are remembered," Parkinson said.

"It's a tragedy which obviously impacted so many people.

"Those people who were affected will never be forgotten."