Wrexham’s James McClean celebrates scoring at Blackpool. Ollie Rathbone scored the second to enhance their chances of promotion to the Championship.Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA
The Championship might have to start preparing for Hollywood. A third successive promotion remains firmly in Wrexham’s sights after a near-perfect day for them in League One’s tumultuous automatic promotion race. Who writes their scripts?
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Trailing second-placed Wycombe by a point before kick-off after three draws in four games, Wrexham’s hopes of a top-two finish gained a new lease of life after a dominant second-half display at Blackpool – and a favourable result 220 miles away in Buckinghamshire.
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James McClean and Ollie Rathbone fired in the goals at Bloomfield Road while Wycombe crumbled to a 4-0 home defeat by Charlton, to leave the Welsh club two points ahead of the Chair Boys with two games to go.
Backed by a rowdy sold-out contingent of more than 2,000 away fans, Wrexham began with a spring in their step, the January striker signing Sam Smith fronting a fierce press. Barely a chance had been carved out by either side, however, when news of Charlton’s 13th-minute lead at Adams Park filtered through.
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If that caused a ripple of excitement among Wrexham fans, then their emotions ranged from near-ecstasy to disbelief when McClean, the captain, raided through after a deft flick from Smith, but was denied by a point-blank Harry Tyrer save. With the goal at McClean’s mercy it looked simpler to score.
Charlton had found a second at Wycombe by the half-hour mark but Wrexham couldn’t find a way past Tyrer. George Dobson played in Jay Rodriguez but the veteran forward smacked his shot straight at the sprawling Blackpool goalkeeper. Tyrer, an Everton loanee, was previously on loan at Chester. Suffice to say he was not popular with the travelling fans as they pondered those missed chances with the game goalless at the break.
It’s unclear whether Parkinson informed Wrexham’s players of the Wycombe score at half-time. Either way, their motivation was plain. McClean, sensing this could be his defining Wrexham moment, sent a towering header just over. They were getting closer.
With the away support growing a little restless, perhaps predictably it was McClean who soon grabbed the headlines. The 35-year-old had been derided by the home fans for most of the game but careered off towards a thrilled Wrexham section after his low effort skidded through a crowd of bodies to nestle in the corner.
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It turned out to be a double salvo for Wrexham. While their fans were still celebrating the first goal, Ollie Rathbone kept his head to calmly slot a second into the bottom corner less than three minutes later. “We are going up,” they chanted. With an advantage over Wycombe and a sense of rediscovered confidence, you wouldn’t bet against them.
As for Blackpool, the past few weeks had seen a playoff tilt grow into a genuine possibility, having only lost three games since a 2-1 reverse to Wrexham on Boxing Day. Yet wins for Reading and Leyton Orient, coupled with this 2-1 defeat, dashed those Tangerines’ dreams. A stoppage time Rob Apter consolation came too late.
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