“Great game for us” - Wrexham AFC boss Phil Parkinson delivers Bolton Wanderers claim | OneFootball

The Wrexham boss is determined not to be knocked by Peterborough United cup setback

Wrexham missed out on a Wembley trip when they fell to Peterborough United on penalties in the Vertu Trophy in the week.

It would have set up a glittering clash against Birmingham City in the capital, one that would surely have delighted fans and broadcasters alike, but the Posh had other ideas.

However, Red Dragons boss Phil Parkinson is determined to not let that setback seep into his side’s league form.

It’s certainly no gentle introduction back to League One life for the Welsh side, who host a resurgent Bolton Wanderers at the STōK Cae Ras this Saturday, but Parkinson is determined to bring the fight to the Trotters.

Phil Parkinson weighs up "terrific" League One run

Summing up the result against Posh, Parkinson, as quoted by The Athletic, said: “We gave a team who were out on their feet a lifeline.

“But we won’t let this knock us. Not at all. Bolton is a great game for us. It’s a terrific run coming up.”

How terrific Wrexham’s upcoming run is will depend heavily on how confident you are in Parkinson’s squad.

Bolton, for reasons outlined above, is certain to be a tough challenge, but it doesn’t ease up any as they have a trip to Huddersfield to contend with after that — strong promotion favourites at the beginning of the season and still well in the play-off race.

Rotherham United can’t be discounted for their clash after that, before encountering Reading, Wycombe Wanderers and Stockport County one after the other, all in and around the play-offs.

Wrexham firmly focused on the league

“All the lads are ready. We won’t dwell on this at all,” Parkinson continued. “We just have to learn from it. You can’t take your eye of the ball, in terms of what you need to do. We did that in two moments.

“I’m not just saying it now because we went out, but the league is our number one priority.”

“I’ve said that before every round. We’ve treated the league as its own entity.

That’s understandable from Parkinson’s point of view. His side are currently in third place and, only three points behind Wycombe, an automatic promotion spot is still very much in play.

The Wrexham boss continued: “We had a great win at Mansfield and are in a confident vein of form, having won three out of the last four games in the league.

“We’re confident. Bolton are a good side, but so are we.”

It might not feel like it, but Peterborough loss may be a blessing in disguise

Football clubs want to win silverware, that much is obvious, but there are some positives to Wrexham bowing out.

Under the ownership of Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Red Dragons are no strangers to the spotlight, but interest in a showpiece final between them and American-owned Birmingham would have been intense.

A welcome bonus it may have been, but no club has winning the Vertu Trophy at the top of their agenda when the season kicks off, and few managers are judged one their success in the competition.

They very much are judged on how they get on in the league and, given the position Wrexham have got themselves into in the third tier, Parkinson is right to solidify his league focus — which could have been wobbled even more by a poor result at Wembley.

No team goes into any game hoping to lose, but Parkinson is justified to reiterate the league’s importance over Wrexham progress to the Vertu Trophy final — clubs on the up, like Bolton, will sniff out any slight drop in confidence.