Opposition Lowdown: Phil Parkinson's Promotion-Hunting Wrexham

03/11/2025 04:46 AM

Reading return to the Select Leasing Car Stadium for the second successive Tuesday evening game under the lights, taking on promotion-chasing Wrexham. Join us as we take a look at the opposition.

Form

Wrexham won promotion from League Two last season, finishing as runners-up, four points behind champions Stockport County. This ensured they secured back-to-back promotions, having won the National League the previous season after spending 15 seasons outside of the Football League.

They are firmly in the hunt for their third successive promotion, currently sitting third in the league, on the same number of points as second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.

Their recent form has been strong, having seen three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five games. They come into Tuesday's game off the back of back-to-back victories, having beaten Rotherham United at home over the weekend, with former Royal Sam Smith the match winner.

The two sides faced each other back in August, with Wrexham claiming a 3-0 victory at the Racehorse Ground after goals from Ollie Palmer, Elliott Lee and Andy Cannon.

The boss

Phil Parkinson: Former Reading favourite Parkinson was appointed Wrexham manager in July 2021, taking over from Dean Keates.

Parky had an 18-year career as a player, starting as a trainee at Southampton before joining Bury, where he made his professional debut. He joined Reading in 1992 and went on to make 231 appearances for the Royals over the course of a decade, with many of those as captain.

Parkinson retired from playing in 2003 and walked straight into a managerial role at Colchester United, where he secured his first promotion as a manager in 2006. A short spell at Hull City followed, before Parkinson went on to join Charlton Athletic as Alan Pardew's assistant. He became Charlton manager in 2008 and spent two years in charge before his sacking in January 2011.

He had his longest reign at Bradford City, who he managed between 2011 and 2016. Parky guided Bradford to a League Cup final in 2013 and promotion to League One via the playoffs in 2013. He went on to manage Bolton Wanderers, where he secured his third promotion as a manager, guiding the Trotters back to the Championship in 2017.

A short spell at Sunderland followed before he joined Wrexham in 2021, securing two more promotions, winning the National League in 2023 and finishing runners-up in League Two last season.

Having been a leader on the pitch during his playing career, Parky has taken these skills into his managerial career and is a highly regarded, successful manager in the lower leagues.

Squad

Reading's top scorer Smith joined Wrexham in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee and he has since gone on to score two goals for the Red Dragons, taking his season tally to 13.

Wrexham also added two attacking options to their squad with the signings of Hull winger Ryan Longman and Burnley's veteran striker Jay Rodriguez for undisclosed fees.

Wrexham are expected to be without midfielders Andy Cannon and Luke Bolton and forward Ollie Palmer for this game, as they all recover from injury.

Predicted lineup

Okonkwo, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, Longman, Rathbone, M. James, Lee, Revan, Rodriguez, Smith

Key player

5. Eoghan O'Connell: Defender O'Connell joined Wrexham in January 2023, from Charlton, for an undisclosed fee.

O'Connell started his career with academy teams in Ireland before joining the Celtic youth setup in 2011. He made his Celtic debut in 2014 and went on to make 13 appearances for the Bhoys while also spending time on loan at Oldham Athletic, Cork City and Walsall.

A move to Bury followed in 2017 in a hunt for first-team football before going on to join Rochdale two years later. O'Connell made 131 appearances for Rochdale over the course of three seasons and went on to join Charlton in 2022.

His spell at the Addicks only lasted seven months when he dropped down to the National League to play for Wrexham. The 29-year-old has gone on to make 81 appearances for the Red Dragons across non-league, League Two and League One.

He has also represented his country the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level. O'Connell is a centre-back who is calm on the ball and has a good eye for a pass.

One to watch

47. Ryan Longman: Winger Longman joined Wrexham during the January transfer window, signing from Hull City for an undisclosed fee.

He started his career in the youth system at Brighton & Hove Albion and made his sole appearance for the Seagulls in an EFL Cup game against Aston Villa in 2019. While with Brighton he also spent time on loan at AFC Wimbledon and Hull City, who he went on to join permanently in 2022.

Longman went on to make 82 appearances for Hull, across three and a half years, scoring eight goals. He also spent time on loan at Millwall last season, where he added another three goals to his career tally.

Since signing for Wrexham, the 24-year-old has made 10 appearances, logging three assists. Longman is a predominantly a winger but can also play as a wing-back as he contributes well defensively, while also being able to play on either side of the pitch.