While Wrexham Landlords Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would have hoped for another promotion battle, this start to the season among top-flight opponents like Birmingham will leave them immensely impressed. Phil Parkinson.

However, in recent weeks, cracks have started to appear in Racecourse grounds. Three games without a win preceded Mansfield’s result, while Paul Mullin has struggled for form in League One.

Expert Carlton Palmer urged Wrexham to sign replacement for Mullin in January. Meanwhile, three crucial statistics show Parkinson’s side are struggling compared to their promotion rivals.

Shots on target per match

Starting with the most important aspect of the game: scoring goals. Wrexham have scored 22 league goals this season, which is comparable to their promotion rivals, but Parkinson’s side struggle to compare to the top six shots on target per game.

Wrexham’s 3.8 shots on target per game are the lowest in the top six, alarmingly lower than Barnsley, Stockport County and Lincoln City who sit below the Red Dragons in the table.

This may suggest that the Wrexham team attack effectively, but Mullin’s form as well as low shots on target per game may suggest the goals could be drying up on the Racecourse pitch.

Touches in the opponent’s area

To help increase shots on target, Wrexham would ideally find themselves with more touches in the opposition box to create shooting opportunities. Unfortunately, people with Parkinson’s disease also experience difficulties in this area.

So far this season, Wrexham have had 252 touches in the opposition box, almost 100 fewer touches than league leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

Lincoln City are the only other team in the top six to have fewer than 300 touches in the opposition box, leaving the Red Dragons behind the majority of their promotion rivals by some distance.

Ryan Barnett’s excellent strike from outside the box against Mansfield has shown that Wrexham do not need to dominate the opposition box to win games so far, but the pressure of the promotion race could lead to Parkinson’s side lamenting their lack of presence in goal-scoring positions more advantageous.

Corners won

Speaking of advantageous positions, attacking corners can provide teams with crucial scoring opportunities. Last season, Wrexham led League Two in corners won, but this season has been a very different story so far.

Wrexham have won just 54 corners this season, ranking 22nd overall in League One. With the Red Dragons struggling to get shots on target and touches in the opposition box, winning corners would be an ideal alternative to ensure they maintain their attacking momentum in matches.

However, Parkinson’s side once again rank low compared to their promotion rivals, with Barnsley almost doubling their tally despite being below Wrexham in the table.

If Wrexham are to continue to fight for promotion this season, Parkinson and his The Red Dragons coaching team will need to find a way to improve those offensive stats to ensure their rivals don’t leave them behind.

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