Wrexham A.F.C. secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday. The win at The Racecourse was built on goals from Joe Worrall, Ben Whiteman, Sam Smith and Kieffer Moore, lifting the club to 14th place in the league standings with 14 points from 11 games. This result, which came on Saturday 17 October, improves their overall record to three wins, five draws and three losses.
Phil Parkinson set his side up in a 3-4-1-2 formation and saw his team take control early. Joe Worrall opened the scoring with a header from Danny Imray's cross after 31 minutes. Preston equalised five minutes later through Alfie Devine, but Wrexham restored their lead before half-time. Ben Whiteman, facing his former club, fired home to make it 2-1 at the break.
Wrexham extended their dominance after the interval. Sam Smith netted his first goal of the season on 59 minutes, assisted by Whiteman. Kieffer Moore then wrapped up the points four minutes later, heading in from Worrall's delivery. That goal was Moore's fifth of the campaign, making him the team's top scorer. The victory was a welcome return to form after a run of two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five outings, which included a 2-1 loss to West Brom and a 1-1 draw with Derby.
Key contributions
Ben Whiteman was instrumental, contributing a goal and an assist. Joe Worrall also had a hand in two goals, scoring the first and setting up the fourth. Manager Phil Parkinson made five changes in the second half to manage the game, introducing Issa Kabore, George Dobson, Bailey Cadamarteri, Ollie Rathbone and Lewis O'Brien.
Matty James played through a back problem in midfield, while Callum Doyle was booked late on. The statistics reflected Wrexham's command, with 62% possession and 17 shots to Preston's 11. This emphatic result marks a significant turnaround in recent form, following a 2-1 home loss to West Brom. The victory moves Wrexham nine points behind league leaders Swansea and sees them with a positive goal difference for the first time this season, having scored 15 and conceded 14. Their goal difference now stands at minus one, with 16 conceded overall.
Parkinson hailed the team's response. "Wrexham respond with emphatic 4-1 win against Preston North End," the manager said after the match. He praised the team's intensity and the quality of their goals, particularly highlighting the midfield control.
Wrexham's next fixture is a trip to face 10th-placed Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday 24 October. The club will be hoping to build on this performance and potentially break into the top half of the table with a positive result.
Manager Phil Parkinson confirmed on Monday that midfielder Matty James played through a back problem in the 4-1 win over Preston. James had required an injection and missed full training after the international break. "He's had an injection, he's only really trained half the session Thursday," said Parkinson, praising the 35-year-old's mentality. The victory, which lifted Wrexham to 14th in the Championship, was a response to the previous 2-1 home defeat by West Brom.
The club confirmed on Monday that the 4-1 win over Preston was Wrexham's first three-goal margin victory at home since April 2025. Manager Phil Parkinson said the result offered "enough positives to show why the board remains firmly behind" him. The win, which lifted Wrexham to 14th in the Championship, was a response to the previous 2-1 home defeat by West Brom.
Manager Phil Parkinson said on Tuesday that the 4-1 win over Preston showed a return to the attacking threat Wrexham fans expect. "Our supporters are used to goalmouth action," said Parkinson. He noted three of the four goals came from set-pieces, a traditional strength. The victory, which lifted Wrexham to 14th in the Championship with 14 points, followed a 2-1 home defeat by West Brom.
Ben Whiteman responded to jeers from Preston fans after scoring in Wrexham's 4-1 win on Saturday. The midfielder, who left Preston in August, celebrated his first goal for the club by blowing a kiss to the away supporters. "They were giving me stick all game," said Whiteman. "They can have it back." The victory, which leaves Wrexham 14th in the Championship with 14 points, ended a run of two games without a win.
