By David Williams
Jack Marriott has warned Wrexham’s League One rivals his team intend to keep their foot hard to the floor as they aim to drive themselves into the record books.
No club has ever tyre-screeched their way from non-League to the second tier in successive seasons, but Wrexham continue to leave the rest in their exhaust fumes.
A no-nonsense, 3-0 dismissal of their nearest league neighbours, Shrewsbury, last weekend, means they are unbeaten at the top of League One with 13 points gained from a possible 15.
“We want to keep riding this momentum, keep performing as we have been, and just see where that takes us,” said Marriott, scorer of Wrexham’s third goal.
“It’s the international break, so there were only three games in the division, which means we are not over-thinking it.
“But it’s a really special place to be. It’s my first experience of a club where they have managed back-to-back promotions.
“It feels great, it’s a privilege to be part of this journey that the club is on.”
Three goals from five @SkyBetLeagueOne matches so far this season for Jack 💪
🔴⚪ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/gTnoEDBmzS
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) September 8, 2024
Like many successful teams, you can gauge Wrexham’s strength by the quality of those who are not making their starting eleven, compared to others.
Former Scotland striker Steven Fletcher is on the bench, when he sits alongside Paul Mullin, a forward whose 103 goals in Wrexham’s last three seasons is not enough to get him into the side.
Striker Marriott – once of Luton and Derby – is one of those keeping Mullin and Fletcher on the sidelines and the 29-year-old added: “Everyone is itching to play here, so you have to take your chance when you get it.
“Everyone wants to keep their place in the team, but there’s no stress here because we all want what’s best for the club. We are all pulling in the same direction.”
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Read more ⬇️https://t.co/EdOLJ44LBJ
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) September 9, 2024
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is also excited at the potential his team is showing after just five matches of the new campaign.
“Five games in and I know it doesn’t count for a great deal but equally I think we’ve got to be pleased with the work so far this season,” Parkinson said.
“Having the ability to handle being at the top and that extra kind of expectancy it creates, of course we’ve been there.
“The run with Notts County in the National League, every game was full on and you had to win every game and had to perform at your best to keep winning.
“So yes, we’ve got a group who are used to living with that and hopefully we’ll continue to thrive under that bit of added pressure.”
A very Happy Birthday today to both Jack Marriott, who turns 30 and Arthur Okonkwo, who turns 23 🎂🎉
Penblwydd Hapus lads! pic.twitter.com/bzxis3a5t4
— The Wrexham Lowdown (@WrexhamLowdown) September 9, 2024
Goals from Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and Marriott secured victory in Saturday’s cross-border derby against Shrewsbury at the Stok Racecourse.
Parkinson has hailed his squad’s strength in depth, with fierce competition for starting places.
“We’ve got players not making the bench at the moment who could easily get in the team and stay in the team,” Parkinson added.
“It’s like we’ve done in previous years we’ve gone with the lads who have got us over the line last year, apart from Dobbo [George Dobson] who has come in and his performances speak for themselves and obviously George Evans getting injured.
“But there are some good players ready and waiting.”
Phil Parkinson is pleased with Wrexham’s “great” start to the season but won't get carried away. ❌#BBCFootball #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/vPnMap8xB0
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 9, 2024