Okonkwo Shines in Bolton Draw
Wrexham's #1 put on a show as the Reds show they can run with the League's best.
Wrexham continued their positive start to the League One campaign and the academy and reserves did the same in a very positive week for the Dragons.
The Wrecap:
Bolton 0 - 0 Wrexham
Don’t let that scoreline fool you: this was an electric match. Facing one of the more powerful clubs in the league, Wrexham struggled to keep the ball for the vast majority of the first half of the match. The Bolton men were relentless, ending the first half with nearly 70% of possession and putting in six shots to Wrexham’s one. But Okonkwo was superb, delivering several important and impressive saves to keep the ball out of the net. Wrexham finally began creating more chances for themselves after half an hour of play, but couldn’t quite capitalize on their sporadic opportunities in front of goal, and the half ended scoreless.
The second half started with a bang, as both squads put in shots on target in the first few minutes. Bolton continued to pile on the pressure throughout the second half, but Wrexham held their own against one of the league favorites, buoyed by what might be Okonkwo’s best performance in a Wrexham shirt. There was some scrappy defending at times, but ultimately both squads walked away with a point in the scoreless draw.
Sometimes a 0-0 game indicates poor performances from both squads…but not this time. Bolton showed why they’re near the top of every pundit’s predicted table and Wrexham showed they’re not to be underestimated. Particularly, the Reds demonstrated how strong our defense can be with O’Connor, O’Connell, Cleworth, and Revan - who many fans on X were upset to see start at RWB over Barnett - all putting in top performances. But make no mistake: the Man of the Match is definitely Okonkwo - it might have been a very different story without him between the posts.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
And watch the highlights here or below:
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O’Connell, O’Connor, Revan, Cannon, Dobson, Lee (Evans 90’), McClean, Marriott (Rathbone 79’), Palmer (Fletcher 72’)
Bench: Evans, Rathbone, Fletcher, Dalby, Scarr, Barnett, Burton
Goals: N/A
Yellow Cards: WRX - O’Connoir (70’), BOL - Santons (50’), Schon (65’)
U18s: Accrington Stanley 0-3 Wrexham
The academy continued their hot start to the season, besting Accrington Stanley by three goals on their home turf as first-teamers Harry Ashfield, Harry Dean, and Callum Edwards all returned to the academy’s starting XI. Accrington kept it close in the first half with Max Purvis only netting the opener after 26,’ but Keane Hazeldine put it to bed with a double in the second half.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup:
Elliott Jones, Tommy Clayton, Tom Kelly, Alex Moore (Chesworth 86’), Harry Dean, Max Purvis, Hari Roberts, Oliver McTweed (Cruise 65’), Keane Hazeldine, Harry Ashfield (Slosarczyk 80’), Callum Edwards (D. Edwards 86’)
Bench: Dafydd Edwards, Bryn Owen, George Cruise, Nikolas Slosarczyk, Sam Chesworth
Goals: WRX - Purvis (26’), Hazeldine (60’, 79’)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: ACR - Rio Alston (71’)
Reserves: Stoke City 2 - 3 Wrexham Reserves
The reserves saw action this week as well, which notably saw Jacob Mendy return to game action. Stoke struck first just sixteen minutes into the contest but Jake Bickerstaff equalized only two minutes later. In the second half, Bickers would complete a hat trick with two more goals to power the reserves to victory. Stoke received a small consolation prize via a second goal in stoppage time to finish out the match.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup:
Liam Hall, Harry Dean, Aaron James (Clayton 77’), Max Purvis, Anthony Forde, George Cruise, Harry Ashfield, Alex Moore (Hazeldine 83’), Jacob Mendy (Kelly 61’), Billy Waters, Jake Bickerstaff
Bench: Tommy Clayton, Elliott Jones, Tom Kelly, Callum Edwards, Keane Hazeldine
Goals: WRX - Bickerstaff (18’, 55’, 75’). STK - Mmaee (16’), Griffiths (90’)
News from the Week:
Wrexham Sign Lizzie Craven and Nat Clark
Wrexham Women announced yesterday that they have signed goalkeeper Lizzie Craven and midfielder Nat Clark to the squad on one-year contracts. Craven spent time in the Everton and Man City development programs before playing for Stoke City and AFC Fylde. Clark departs Liverpool Feds after eight years. Both look like they could easily be fixtures of Steve Dale’s starting squad next month.
Wrexham, Sheffield Charged by FA
The FA issued charges to both Wrexham and Sheffield United for failing to control their players during the confrontation that took place in the closing stages of the EFL Cup match. The FA stated: "It is alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way in the 94th minute."
Both clubs have until today to issue an appeal, which I would expect both clubs will do. Punishment for FA charges can vary but generally, the repercussions come in two forms: monetary fines or point deductions. I would think the former would apply here - a points deduction for a scuffle in which no serious blows were thrown would be utterly preposterous - particularly if it is levied at Wrexham since it was Sheffield’s Sydie Peck who kicked everything off by keeping the ball away from Wrexham when his side was clearly going to win the match. Yes, Jack Marriott made the first physical contact, but - all fandom aside - Peck started it.
Still, the ensuing fight saw what constitutes “unsportsmanlike conduct” from both sides, so a fine for each squad seems like an appropriate - if slightly over-reactive - punishment.
Mullin, Lee Named to PFA Team of the Year
Last night was the Professional Footballers Association Awards, in which the winners are voted on by the players. Paul Mullin was up for Player of the Year, but that honor went to Notts County’s Jodi Jones. Both were included in the Team of the Year, however. Here’s how the rest of the TotY lined up:
The Week Ahead
8/24: Wrexham vs Reading
US: Paramount+, iFollow. UK: SkySports+
This Saturday the Reds will once again get the Paramount+ treatment in The States as they take on Reading FC for the very first time. Reading finished in 17th last year after falling from the Championship the season before, but have been in fine form to start the season - in fact, they’ve done just as well as Wrexham: a win, a draw, and an EFL Cup loss.
They’ve acquired a few U18ers from the Premier League this summer, but otherwise have been relatively quiet on the transfer market. However, they can boast midfielder Lewis Wing, who finished as the ninth-best League One player last season and scored 11 goals. Thus far this year, winger Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is off to a flying start and is currently FotMob’s top-ranked player in the league after the first two games.
Reading’s opponents are also noteworthy: they drew against Birmingham City, scored a double against Wigan, and are fresh off a 3-1 victory over West Ham’s academy in the EFL Trophy. If you just looked at last year’s table, you might be tempted to view this as an easier fixture…but I think it’ll prove to be a tougher fight than that.
Current Tables
Rumor Round-up
Michael Smith Update
The Sheffield Star reports that Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday have been in talks about a Michael Smith transfer, but the two sides are still far apart on a potential deal.
Rumor Tracker
Reported Interest:
Stephen Humphrys
Joe Morrell
Cyrus Christie
Wes Harding
Bailey Cadamarteri
Michael Smith
Jason KerrTom Pearce - Joined CF Montréal on a 3-year dealJosh Magennis - Joined Exeter City on a 1-year dealMarc Leonard - joined Birmingham City on a 4-year deal.Marvin Ekpiteta - Joined Hibernian FC in the Scottish Premiership on a 3-year dealJamie Lindsay - Joined Bristol Rovers on a 3-year dealGareth Bale - Happily retiredNeil Etheridge - Joined Buriram United of ThailandTom Bradshaw - Millwall manager Neil Harris says Bradshaw will not move this offseason.John McAtee - Signed with Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal.Ryan Longman - has undergone shoulder surgery
Squad Depth
Below is the squad as it stands. I’ll keep this depth chart updated as time and transfers go by. My depth rankings are based on the assumption Phil keeps the same 5-3-2 formation and everyone is healthy.
Changes from last week:
None
Arrivals
James McClean »»» New Contract through 25/26 Season
Harry Dean »»» Signed to a professional contract from the youth squad
Steven Fletcher »»» Signed to a one-year contract
Mark Howard »»» Signed to a one-year contract
Arthur Okonkwo »»» Signed to a three-year contract
George Evans »»» Signed a two-year extension
Lewis Brunt »»» Signed to a three-year contract
George Dobson »»» Signed to a three-year contract
Max Cleworth »»» Signed a three-year extension
Tom O’Connor »»» Signed a three-year extension
Callum Burton »»» Signed to a two-year contract
Sebastian Revan »»» Signed to a three-year contract
Dan Scarr »»» Signed to a three-year contract
Olliver Rathbone »» Signed to a three-year contract
Departures
Aaron Hayden »»» Released, signed a 2-year deal with Carlisle United
Rob Lainton »»» Released, currently a free agent
Callum McFadzean »»» Released, currently a free agent
Jordan Tunnicliffe »»» Released, signed with Solihull Moors
Owen Cushion »»» Released, signed for Prescot Cables FC
Dan Davies. »»» Released, signed with Flint Town United FC
Ben Tozer »»» Released »»» signed with Forest Green Rovers
Luke Young »»» Released »»» signed with Cheltenham Town FC
Max Hayes »»» Released, currently a free agent
Michael Hayman »»» Released, currently a free agent
Jack Pilkington »»» Released, joined community club AFC Knowsley
Jake Roberts »»» Released, currently a free agent
Dan Wright »»» Released, joined Rhyl 1879
Scott Butler »»» Released »»» signed with Marine FC
Luke McNicholas »»» Loaned to Rochdale for 24/25 season
Jordan Davies »»» Loaned to Grimsby Town for 24/25 Season