Wrexham

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Wrexham's EFL Trophy third-round tie at Port Vale has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, 4 February at 19:00 GMT.

The game had been due to be played on Tuesday night, but was postponed because of safety concerns over areas surrounding Vale Park after adverse weather.

Wrexham's League One match at Reading on Saturday is also postponed due to Reading making the third round of the FA Cup.

It means Wrexham will not be in action until Thursday, 16 January with a trip to Shrewsbury Town at 20:00 GMT.

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Phil Parkinson has been nominated for the League One manager of the month award after Wrexham went unbeaten in December.

The Dragons claimed 14 points from six league games last month to maintain their push for promotion to the Championship.

Birmingham City's Chris Davies, Leyton Orient's Richie Wellens and Huddersfield Town's former Swansea City boss Michael Duff are also nominated.

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Wrexham's EFL Trophy third-round tie at Port Vale on Tuesday has been postponed because of safety concerns over areas surrounding Vale Park.

The game was called off at around 14:00 GMT, five hours before kick-off.

"The Vale Park pitch passed this morning's inspection but the condition of the surface was deemed doubtful, with further snow forecast later this afternoon and into the evening," a statement issued by both clubs said.

"A decision to postpone the fixture was taken due to safety concerns relating to the areas surrounding the stadium, which remain dangerous for those expected to attend."

The clubs say a new date for the round of 16 tie will be announced in due course.

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A pitch inspection is being held at Vale Park to decide whether Port Vale's EFL Trophy tie with Wrexham on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) will go ahead.

Freezing temperatures are forecast in North Staffordshire by the time the third-round game is due to kick off.

The two clubs say a decision on whether the game will go ahead will be made "early" on Tuesday afternoon.

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Phil Parkinson will make wholesale changes for Wrexham's EFL Trophy tie against Port Vale on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) after suggesting it would be "madness" to risk key players after the busy festive period.

Wrexham travel to League Two side Vale in the third round of the competition, and Parkinson will give opportunities to fringe players to prevent his leading men suffering from burnout.

"There's no way lads who've played a lot of football can be risked in that game," said Parkinson.

"It would be complete madness to do that. A few of them deserve a well-earned rest now."

Wrexham played four games in nine days over the holiday period, three of which they won with late Steven Fletcher goals, but they are not in action in League One again until 16 January.

That gives Parkinson a chance to rest many of his first-choice players and allow the likes of Elliot Lee, Lewis Brunt, Luke Bolton and Ryan Barnett the chance to recover properly from injuries.

"Because of the injuries, our ability to freshen the team up over Christmas and New Year was limited," said Parkinson.

"So I've had to ask the same lads to keep going.

"We know it's our job, getting on with things, but there's a few we've been sending out there strapped up. I've got to make sure we give those lads a bit of time off now."

Parkinson said striker Jack Marriott is "not far away" from returning after suffering a broken leg in October.

Another long-term injury absentee, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, made his comeback in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Peterborough after two months out with a broken wrist.

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Ollie Rathbone insists Wrexham can still reach "another level" after a hat-trick of festive home wins left them two points off the top of League One.

Saturday's 1-0 victory over Peterborough made it three wins from four over the busy Christmas and New Year period, drawing Wrexham level on points with second-placed Wycombe and two shy of leaders Birmingham.

It was also the third home game in a row they have carved out a late winner, all courtesy of substitute Steven Fletcher.

"It's the sign of a good team - especially if you want to get promoted - that you can't get into a slump or a poor run of form," said midielder Rathbone, who claimed an assist for Fletcher's 87th-minute winner over Posh.

"We haven't allowed that to happen. After losing at Barnsley, we've shown character and belief, and big players have turned up in big moments. Fletch has done that for us in recent games.

"There's definitely more to come. Barney (wing-back Ryan Barnett) said something last week that we've not reached our ceiling yet and I couldn't agree more.

"We can go up another level and hopefully that'll come in this second half of the season."

Wrexham now have a breather from their promotion campaign, with no league fixture until they travel to Shrewsbury on 16 January.

But they go to Port Vale in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night and boss Phil Parkinson is expected to offer some players a rest after the hectic holiday period.

"Four games in something like nine days is quite demanding - physically and mentally," said Rathbone.

"It'll be good to have a little break [from the league] before stepping things up again."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson praised matchwinner Steven Fletcher following the 1-0 victory over Peterborough United in League One.

Fletcher, 37, headed home Ollie Rathbone's cross with three minutes remaining as Wrexham maintained their promotion bid.

It was the fourth time in six games that the Fletcher had come off the bench to score in the final few minutes.

Parkinson, who celebrated the 1,000th game of his managerial career, said of the former Scotland forward: "What can you say about him?"

"Apart from being a good player he's a good lad as well.

"He's a great team person/squad member and a great influence around the boys when he's injured, playing or training.

"It's great for him as well because obviously he's got time left in his career but at his age his career is coming to that stage so to get special moments like that is incredible.

"We've just got to stop him sprinting off and celebrating and using his energy up!

"But it's a brilliant cross and there's not many players at this level would have scored that goal."

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Elliot Lee is "touch and go" to be available for Wrexham's League One fixture with Peterborough United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The midfielder missed his side's 2-1 triumph over Blackpool on 26 December with a hamstring issue but returned to feature as a substitute in Wrexham's victory over Wigan Athletic three days later.

But he was left out of the squad altogether for the 2-1 loss at Barnsley on New Year's Day, although Parkinson confirmed the 30-year-old's setback is not a long-term issue.

"Elliot's hamstring flared up after the [Wigan] game," said the Wrexham boss.

"We've had to have that rescanned. It's not a long-term injury but that'll be touch and go for the weekend."

Lewis Brunt and Mo Faal were also absent at Barnsley and will be assessed before the contest against Peterborough.

"He [Brunt] was injured, a calf strain," added Parkinson.

"Mo Faal was sadly ill this morning at the hotel.

"It's a shame for Brunty, but I thought Tom O'Connor was brilliant today [against Barnsley]. I thought he was outstanding."

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Ryan Barnett believes Wrexham are yet to hit their ceiling after moving into League One's automatic promotion places courtesy of a 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic.

Barnett scored his second goal of the season before Steven Fletcher netted a late winner after Joe Hugill looked to have earned the Latics a point at the Stok Racecourse.

But wing-back Barnett believes Phil Parkinson's side can improve even further as they go in search of a third successive promotion.

"I still don't even think we've hit our ceiling yet," said the 25-year-old.

"We've got so much quality in this dressing room and we've got so many more levels that we can go to. That's exciting with half of the season left.

"The squad that the club have assembled is really strong, especially for this league.

"When people get injured or there's a loss of form, other people come in and the quality doesn't really change because that's the kind of characters and players we've brought in."

Barnett has started all but one of Wrexham's league matches so far this season having been in and out of the side last term after joining from Solihull Moors.

The Shrewsbury-born player also says he feels at home in north Wales.

"Ever since I've joined, there's been so many highs. It couldn't have gone any better if I'm totally honest," he added.

"I've loved it. I feel at home here. Long may it continue."

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Wrexham striker Steven Fletcher says he was left breathless after his over exuberant celebration following his late match winner against Wigan Athletic.

The forward notched his third goal in four games in the first minute of added time as Phil Parkinson's side rose to second in League One courtesy of their 2-1 victory over the Latics.

"I need to take a minute, the celebration was too much," admitted Fletcher.

"I knew straight away as soon as I started running."

It was the second game running in which the ex-Scotland international scored in the final stages to earn Wrexham victory following his winner against Blackpool on 26 December.

The Red Dragons remain unbeaten on home soil in the league this season having won 11 and drawn two of their 13 matches at the Stok Racecourse.

And Fletcher, 37, admits he has been taken aback by the strength Wrexham have consistently been able to show on their own patch since he joined the club from Dundee United in 2023.

"I'd like to have a bit more comfortable games, but it wouldn't be Wrexham without a bit of fun," added Fletcher.

"I don't know what it is about this place. I realised that when I first came.

"Something about this place, I don't know if it's the fans or something, but it carries us over the line all the time.

"It's credit to the lads and the gaffer. We keep going, he's got that mentality driven into us that we keep going to the end."