Wrexham took another massive step toward securing a record fourth consecutive promotion with an entertaining 5-3 victory against fellow Premier League hopefuls Ipswich Town at Racecourse Ground.
The eight-goal thriller will go down as a Championship classic, but it was enough for Phil Parkinson’s side to return to winning ways after losing to Millwall and drawing Bristol City.
The Red Dragons found themselves 3-2 down shortly after half-time against an Ipswich side that are also in the race to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Despite trailing on home turf, the visitors looked the more likely to get the next goal that may have put the final nail in Wrexham’s coffin.
However, the Welsh club levelled matters against the run of play just after the hour mark before bagging two more late goals to seal a remarkable comeback victory.
The first half set the tone for what was Wrexham’s first league victory at the Racecourse Ground in 2026.
Wrexham took the lead twice in a frantic opening period as Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass scored on either side of an Anis Mehmeti goal.
After setting up Mehmeti’s first goal, Ivan Azon turned goalscorer just before half-time to bring Ipswich level for the second time.
Just two minutes into the second half, Ipswich edged in front for the first time as Cedric Kipre rifled home an absolute belter past Arthur Okonkwo.
Ipswich looked destined to secure a 16th league win of the campaign, but Wrexham refused to fold.
George Thomason scored his first goal for the club to bring the game level once more.
Nine minutes later, Callum Doyle rose highest to head home a Lewis O’Brien corner before Nathan Broadhead wrapped up the three points with a deftly taken goal against his former employers.
That crucial victory means Wrexham will head into Tuesday night’s contest with 19th-placed Portsmouth at the Racecourse Ground in the play-off places once again.
Parkinson praised his side’s “commitment” and “endeavour” after turning things around to halt their winless streak at two Championship games.
“We’re pleased with that (returning to the top six),” Parkinson said (via BBC). “We’ve got a big game on Tuesday, and I can’t wait. It’s like I keep saying, we’re just enjoying the ride.
“I think if the bookies would have put all the factors together today, Ipswich making 10 changes, the freshness of coming up, they’d have probably been favourites.
“We’ve overturned that with sheer commitment, honesty and endeavour.”
Can Wrexham secure Premier League promotion?
The Red Dragons have been the feel-good story of the English Football League pyramid after climbing from non-league football to the Championship over the past three years.
Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been key to the club’s revival, and they now stand a strong chance of making it four promotions in a row this season.
Wrexham had dropped off between late November and mid-December, failing to win any of their five Championship games during that period (D3, L2).
However, they turned a corner towards the end of the year, winning four consecutive games.
The Red Dragons have now won three of their last five games (D1, L1), moving into sixth place in the Championship table.
With 11 points separating them from second-placed Middlesbrough, securing automatic promotion may be out of Wrexham’s reach with 13 games left to play.
Finishing in the play-offs seems like a more realistic route to promotion, but Parkinson’s side cannot afford another drop off at this stage of the season.
They’re just two points above Birmingham City, who are hot on their heels, while only six points separate the Red Dragons from 15th-placed Swansea City.
That means any slight drop in form could be catastrophic for Wrexham.
However, the Welsh club are no strangers to defying the odds, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to believe that they could be playing Premier League football next season.
