Wrexham is intensifying its pursuit of a fourth consecutive promotion and a coveted spot in the Premier League.
In a thrilling 3-2 victory against Queens Park Rangers — featuring two goals in stoppage time — Wrexham, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, soared to sixth place in the Championship on Saturday.
The top two teams will earn automatic promotion, while those finishing in third to sixth will compete in playoffs for an additional promotion spot.
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This marks the first time this season that Wrexham has finished a round in playoff contention.
Despite Steve Cook’s late goal seemingly securing victory for Rangers, the momentum shifted when their defender Amadou Mbengue received a red card late in stoppage time, allowing Wrexham to net two quick goals.
Josh Windass leveled the score, and fellow substitute Ollie Rathbone sealed the win with a spectacular right-footed strike from 30 yards in the dying moments of the match.
“You could sense how quickly we regrouped after their equalizer,” said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
“We sensed an opportunity. Sometimes, as a team, you can feel that. After their player was sent off, I don’t know if that influenced the situation, but we had the upper hand to go for the win.”
Wrexham has now completed 29 matches in this, their first season in the second tier since the 1980s, following an extraordinary run of three consecutive promotions.
Their rise through the English football ranks, spurred by the investment from Reynolds and McElhenney since taking over the club in 2020 and highlighted in the Emmy-winning series “Welcome to Wrexham,” began with promotion from the fifth tier in 2022.
Windass was among the 13 new signings made during a summer transfer spree estimated at $40 million, which saw Wrexham repeatedly break their transfer record.
Rathbone’s late goal marked his fifth in just ten appearances, earning him praise from Parkinson.
“Josh demonstrated fantastic skill, and Ollie’s goal-to-minute ratio is likely the best in the league,” Parkinson noted.
“A significant aspect was the professionalism of our players, even those who weren’t in the starting lineup. There was a strong sense of unity that contributed to our success, especially from Josh and Ollie.”
“The conditions were tough; it might be the most challenging pitch in the league. Securing all three points is a tremendous achievement for us.”
Reporting contributed by The Associated Press and PA.