Wrexham’s Jay Rodriguez Shines in 2-0 Win Against Exeter City

EXETER, England — Wrexham secured a vital 2-0 victory over Exeter City on Saturday afternoon, enhancing their bid for automatic promotion to the Championship. The win came thanks to goals from Ollie Rathbone in the 23rd minute and Jay Rodriguez, who converted a 60th-minute penalty.

Rodriguez, who joined Wrexham from Burnley in January, demonstrated his prowess once again. The 35-year-old striker netted his second goal in as many matches after scoring against Stockport County last week, where he also earned a penalty.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was pleased with Rodriguez’s performance, stating, “There was no hesitation from me. He’s an experienced player who’s been at the top level. It was great for him to get his goal last week.” He observed Rodriguez closely during training, affirming that the striker exhibited confidence in his penalty-taking skills.

Despite an earlier miss in the Stockport match, where Rodriguez had his first attempt saved but scored on the rebound, Parkinson kept him on penalty duties. Rodriguez’s reliable execution of the spot-kick was met with enthusiasm from the nearly 900 travelling Wrexham fans at St James Park.

This win marked Wrexham’s first victory by more than one goal in over a month. Prior to this match, all but one of Wrexham’s last five matches had concluded with a 1-0 scoreline, highlighting their defensive resilience, allowing them to claim 16 victories by a single goal this season—the most in League One.

After the game, Parkinson noted the significance of scoring a second goal, saying, “We did speak about it at half-time; Exeter would have the wind with them, attacking that noisy terrace. But we didn’t sit back, we took the game to them with some really good play.”

The win keeps Wrexham three points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who also won on Saturday. Wrexham remains steadfast in their quest for promotion, with just seven games left in the League One season.

Parkinson’s side is set to face Cambridge United in their next match on Tuesday night. With a fairly settled starting lineup, the team has managed to find both victory and defensive solidity, evident through several clean sheets. However, the manager is facing the challenge of big players like Ollie Palmer remaining on the bench.

Palmer, along with other key players, has been underperforming in recent weeks. Midfielder Jordon Lee and forward Jack Marriott have also struggled, with Lee failing to contribute significantly since early February and Marriott returning from injury in a limited capacity. Despite their current struggles, Parkinson remains confident in their capabilities when called upon.

Wrexham fans are eager for another promotion, with Rathbone emphasizing the strength of their support, calling it “incredible.” He expressed that playing for such an enthusiastic crowd motivates the players and enhances their performance on the pitch.

Fans have made long treks to support the team, including a significantly challenging journey to Exeter, which is about 450 miles from Wrexham. With upcoming matches against struggling sides, the team hopes to capitalize on their current form and secure promotion to the Championship.