Phil Parkinson was thrilled with Wrexham’s “statement performance and win” as they handed Coventry their first defeat of the season, breaking their unbeaten streak in the English Football League, with a 3-2 victory on Friday.
Kieffer Moore achieved a perfect hat trick, scoring with his right foot, left foot, and with a header, as Wrexham bounced back after Ephron Mason-Clark put Coventry ahead in the first half.
This marked Moore’s first hat trick since August 2018, giving Wrexham a 3-1 advantage before Tatsuhiro Sakamoto netted a late goal for the Sky Blues.
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“This is undoubtedly a statement performance and win for us,” Parkinson said, reflecting on his team’s previous Championship victories against Oxford, Millwall, and Norwich after their third successive promotion.
“It’s not a statement to anyone else, but it’s significant for ourselves. After the Middlesbrough game [a 1-1 draw], I mentioned that it should bolster our confidence as it’s been building steadily.”
“We’ve delivered some fantastic performances, but I’m particularly happy with this one against such a strong opponent.”
“When you look at Coventry’s statistics, not just their wins, they’re outperforming in all areas. They have players in terrific form right now.”
Moore has now scored nine goals for Wrexham this season, propelling the team to 11th place ahead of the weekend’s Championship matches.
“I keep reminding everyone that we’re not just here to prevent opponents from scoring,” Parkinson continued, referring to their recent defeat to League One Cardiff in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. “We’re here to play with discipline without the ball. I have a strong belief in these players, and tonight we showcased some very high-quality football.”
“I have to give credit to our supporters; they applauded the team off the field at halftime, and you could really feel the positive energy in the second half.”
“The players responded brilliantly.”
Coventry, who had won their last six matches, fell just short of tying a club record for consecutive league wins.
Despite the loss, the Sky Blues remain three points ahead of Middlesbrough, who have a game in hand against Watford on Saturday.
“We lowered our standards a bit, and when that happens, you can lose,” lamented Coventry manager Frank Lampard. “You have to give credit to the opposition; they made it challenging for us. Even in the first half when we were leading 1-0, I felt we weren’t at our best.”
“A match like this can slip away from you, and that’s typical. This season has been anything but typical, but unfortunately, that was the case tonight.”
“It’s just part of the game, so we need to absorb this setback and recognize that if we underperform, it can lead to results like this.”