Losses are part of success – Wrexham AFC’s manager, Phil Parkinson, reminded his players to move on from recent setbacks. Now, they need to refocus for an important League One match against Mansfield Town this Saturday at The Racecourse Ground. Parkinson’s warning comes in the wake of a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Harrogate Town in the first round of the FA Cup and a painful draw with Charlton Athletic, where they conceded a last-minute goal.

As Parkinson pointed out, and as is often the case with such setbacks, he made clear there could not be any time for dwelling on this particular disappointment, reminding his team to bounce straight back, rediscover their form, and carry on. Having Wrexham sitting in third position in League One, with four points off new leaders Wycombe Wanderers, Parkinson feels no reason to let such recent losses stop their promising campaign.

Wrexham dominated Charlton Athletic on Saturday, particularly in the latter stages. However, Charlton Athletic scored a last-minute penalty goal and robbed them of a well-deserved three points. After the match, Parkinson praised his players, “I was so proud of the way we played. Obviously, there was a lot of emotion at the end, but the way we dominated the second half and parts of the first half was excellent, and we need to remind the lads of that.”

Phil Parkinson wants to move forward with determination

Parkinson noted that adversity might make the team a bit flat. However, he believes both he and the players must quickly move on. Next up is Mansfield Town, which was also promoted from League Two last season. Parkinson expects a strong response. Currently, Mansfield is fourth in the league. So, Saturday’s match will be a clash between two teams aiming for promotion. Both are eager to solidify their top positions.

“Football is about enjoying the wins but not getting too high, and not getting too low when you’ve got beat, and move on,” Parkinson stated, outlining a philosophy that has been central to his leadership. He emphasized the need for consistency in attitude and performance, regardless of setbacks. Parkinson’s message to the squad was to not dwell on past losses. The campaign is long, and resilience will be key. “Naturally, you expect a bit of flatness when you have been knocked out of the cup,” but the aim is to bounce back, learn, and perform better.

Wrexham now has a chance to prove themselves on Saturday against Mansfield Town in League One. “It is a game that for us, as a team, has to be about going forward and showing some grit again to our fans by winning a game,” said Parkinson. “We will come out and respond in a really positive way on Saturday,” promised Parkinson. In football, setbacks happen, yet, Wrexham’s manager keeps the team focused.

Their aim? To push forward, gain momentum, and shine in the league and beyond. Now, as they ready for another home match, Wrexham has a chance. They can show they are stronger than their challenges and can move ahead, united and stronger.