Phil Parkinson, the manager of Wrexham, expressed his pride after his team celebrated his 250th match in charge with a 2-1 victory against Derby.
This win marked Wrexham’s fourth consecutive triumph, bringing them just one point shy of the Championship playoff spots.
The Welsh side started strong, nearly scoring twice before Sam Smith netted from close range in the 25th minute.
Though Ben Brereton-Diaz equalized eight minutes later with a shot from just inside the box, Matty James secured the win with a stunning strike from outside the area in the 48th minute.
“Reaching 250 games at any club is a point of pride for me, especially since management is challenging, but I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here,” Parkinson remarked.
“We have fantastic owners, and I savor every day. It’s particularly gratifying to celebrate milestones like this with a victory.”
“There’s a lot of expectation, but I’m enjoying this journey due to the incredible people I’m working with—both the staff and the owners. We’re also in the process of building a strong and cohesive dressing room this year.”
“Today’s win is significant for us. I’m thrilled with our performance; we started the game excellently and created three fantastic chances before taking the lead.”
“We aimed to finish this block of games on a high note, and Matty James delivered with a brilliant goal.”
For Derby’s head coach John Eustace, the afternoon was disappointing following their victory over Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day.
“In the second half, I believed we could at least avoid defeat, but the manner in which we lost was frustrating due to some poor decision-making,” he said.
“This team is committed and will never give up, which is all I ask from them. Their level of commitment and desire has been evident.”
“We’ve made tremendous progress since my arrival; having this number of points at this stage is gratifying. The players are continuously learning and developing.”
“We’re competing against teams with strong squads, and while a lack of quality sometimes holds us back, our determination and heart will take us far.”
Wrexham’s next match is scheduled for January 9, when they will face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.
Report includes information from PA.