By Gareth James
Phil Parkinson admitted Wrexham blew their big chance to shake off the chasers at the top of League Two.
The Wrexham manager watched his team lose 1-0 at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night – a result that leaves them four points behind leaders Stockport County and two points ahead of MK Dons, who lead the clubs in pursuit.
REPORT | Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Wrexham AFC
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 2, 2024
“We had a chance to put a decent gap between ourselves and the chasing pack below but couldn’t take it,” said Parkinson.
“Doncaster are top of the form table and have got their injured players back, so we knew they were a good team, but so are we.
“We just weren’t really at the races in the first half and they were sharper than us and their quality was better. We had patches of good play but we gave the ball away cheaply and we let too many crosses come into our box and got punished for that.
“We then had a real go in the second half and were a bit unlucky with the goal that was disallowed for offside because that was a very borderline decision. Their keeper has also made a great save from Steven Fletcher right at the end but we did not work him enough.
“There were decisive moments when we were not ruthless enough and, if we had have been, that could have got us back into the game.”
⏱️ FT | Confirmation
And confirmation – that's a fifth straight win for Rovers
🔴 #drfc ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/uoyHfu4EGo
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) April 2, 2024
Owen Bailey’s first league goal for Doncaster earned the home side their fifth successive league win.
Wrexham top scorer Paul Mullin, seeking his 100th club goal, thought he had equalised late on, but his effort was disallowed.
Doncaster boss Grant McCann spoke of his pride in his Doncaster side as they claimed a fifth consecutive win in League Two.
Phil Parkinson and George Evans gave their thoughts following tonight's 1-0 defeat against Doncaster Rovers 👇
🔴⚪ #WxmAFC
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 2, 2024
Bailey’s header late in the first half was enough to decide the game and see Rovers continue their impressive run of form late in the campaign.
“It was a really good performance from us,” McCann said.
“I was really proud of the boys. I thought we were really good as a team defensively. They were always going to have a bit of a spell and in the last 10 or 15 minutes they just kept getting bigger and bigger with the subs they were putting on.
“We wanted to be aggressive against them and I think you saw that over the first 75 minutes. We stepped off it after that and we didn’t get to the ball quick enough so they put a bit of pressure on.
“But apart from that, for 75 minutes I thought we were very, very good. It’s another clean sheet, a good performance, three points and a good win. We had a lot of fans here. I asked them to come out after the last game and they did create a great atmosphere.
“Hopefully they can see a team working very hard for this football club and for them as well.”
Paul Mullin did this 🍿 #OnThisDay in 2022 😆
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 2, 2024