Wrexham will make big changes as they take a break from league action – but manager Phil Parkinson says more of the same is what will matter this season.
Parkinson’s side switch attention to the EFL Trophy on Tuesday where they travel to League Two outfit Port Vale.
Both teams have already qualified for the knock-out stages, but victory at Vale Park could guarantee a Racecourse tie for the Red Dragons who won this competition 20 years ago.
Eager for victory, Parkinson admits he is ready to field an entirely different starting XI to the one that saw off Mansfield Town in League One on Saturday, a result that put the Red Dragons into third, two points off second-placed Birmingham City.
The win over the Stags was not Wrexham at their most free-flowing, but nevertheless Parkinson said it is the attitude that matters as he eyes staying among the promotion front-runners in the club’s return to third-tier football.
“You stick together and grind out the results, that’s what it’s all about over the course of 46 games,” said Parkinson, whose two promotions in the last two seasons with Wrexham made it a career-total of five from his time in management.
“Good teams who end up at the top of the league can win all different types of football matches, it’s as simple as that.
“And we have got the make-up in our team that we can roll our sleeves up when it’s not going our way.”
Parkinson was particularly happy at the weekend, not with the performance but with the mentality, singling out the character of James McClean and admitting it showed the side had learned a lesson from conceding a late penalty in their last league outing away at Charlton Athletic.
Nevertheless, the 55-year-old says it is too early in the season to start getting carried away with league positions.
“It’s very difficult to predict,” said Parkinson, with just five points covering the sides from Wrexham in third down to Bolton Wanderers in 10th.
“Barnsley suddenly appearing in fourth, there’s teams all the way down in 14th when you look at them and think they could be up there.
“Some people are looking at Wycombe and thinking they’re a surprise package but they’re a team who were in the Championship not that long ago and are always up there in this division, so I’m not sure they’re a surprise.
“There’s so many teams that will be fancying their chances, but it’s still early in the season. We’ve just got to keep our heads down, concentrate on what we have to do.”
That will include putting focus on League Two leaders Vale who dropped into the bottom tier under Darren Moore last season.
Wrexham have beaten Salford and Wolves’ Under-21s in their two games in the Trophy so far, and Parkinson added: “Darren’s done a good job, they’ve recruited well and they look like a strong squad.
“We’ll make 11 changes because we’ve already qualified and we’ll use the game to give some players much-needed game time, but we’ll prepare professionally for it and look to get a result.
“There’s home advantage in the next round for the winners which is important for us, so we’ll go there picking a team we’ll feel is right to win the game.”
