Wrexham boss credits famous owners with lifting spirits during Wolves draw
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were in attendance at the Racecourse.
Wrexham couldn’t serve up a blockbuster for owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney but manager Phil Parkinson praised the Hollywood duo’s input into a point that kept Wolves off the SkyBet Championship summit
Lewis O’Brien brought the A-listers to their feet with a first goal of the season to cancel out Adam Armstrong’s latest strike two minutes earlier.
Kieffer Moore missed a chance to win it for the Welsh side in the second half but Red Dragons’ goalie Anthony Patterson produced several big saves to deny Wolves victory at the Racecourse since a first meeting in 1924.
“It’s always very uplifting, I feel, for the people who work at the club, the staff and the players when Rob and Ryan come over,” said Parkinson.
“It is good to see their connection with the club, how much they care and their understanding of when people need a lift and bit of support.
“The crowd too is uplifted with the owners being in town. I communicate with them when they are in the States, but equally it is good to have a chat when they are over.”
Wrexham were down in the doldrums after a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on October 30, but a win over Middlesbrough and this battling point against last season’s Premier Leaguers has lifted the mood around the club.
Parkinson admitted the midweek heroics against Boro took its toll but was delighted by the latest reaction.
“To go toe to toe with Middlesbrough and Wolves and to take four points, we have to be pleased.
“It was always going to be tough to match the levels but we asked the lads for an almighty effort and we didn’t get far away from it.
“In the second half we looked like a tired team but we hung in there. In terms of honesty, that was 10 out of 10.
“And we had the best chance to win it when Kieffer’s shot trickled past the post.”
Armstrong ‘s third goal in four games and fifth of the season saw Wolves briefly top the table.
But O’Brien, who hadn’t scored since last January, arrived in the box to powerfully head home from Issa Kabore’s inviting right wing centre. O’Brien nearly made it 2-1 in first half stoppage time only to be denied by Jose Sa.
Wolves were the dominant team in the second half and while Moore couldn’t quite convert Ollie Rathbone’s free kick. Anthony Patterson was the busier keeper saving from Fer Lopez and Tommy Doyle.
Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto said: “I am angry and upset we didn’t win.
“We deserved to win. We were the better team. Everyone saw a team want to win from the first minute to the last minute.
“We controlled the game, we had more possession, we managed the pressure, we created a lot of chances, we had more shots, more possession, more corners; more everything.
“But it is an important point. It is difficult when you put 11 players back off the ball.
“However, the players played a great game. The home team did nothing in the second half but we didn’t score.
“It is important for the striker to continue to score. Strikers live to score goals and Adam is that guy.
“But the stronger power is the team; it is all the players.”