Ollie Rathbone’s 25-yard screamer to seal a win against QPR has not been included in the EFL’s nominees for the Goal of the Month for January.
While Wrexham fared out in the FA Cup, the Championship delivered a series of thrilling games this week. The best of all stood the comeback script written by Southampton over Leicester in a 4-3 turnaround.
After being down 0-3 until the hour mark, Southampton defied the odds by putting four within the next 30 minutes or so.
A comeback so sensational that many are already comparing it to Wrexham’s iconic fightback in the 3-2 win against QPR. While a choice remains subjective, what’s surprising is that the latter has become a distant memory within weeks.
This follows from EFL’s latest development in announcing the nominees for the January Goal of the Month. The shortlist includes Adam Randell’s goal against Portsmouth, Marvin Ducksch’s volley against Coventry, Harvey Vale’s strike against Wrexham, Lewis Koumas’s finish against Blackburn, but there’s no place for Rathbone’s winner against QPR.
Ollie Rathbone’s QPR winner excluded from nomination
Notably, Harvey Vale’s leading goal in QPR Vs Wrexham has got the nomination. A brilliant volley from a difficult angle against a promotion contender, nothing can be said against the EFL panel’s choice for the pick.
However, directly or indirectly, it shut out a more deserving candidate in Ollie Rathbone’s 3-2 winner. Having arrived in a more pressure situation, Rathbone’s goal stood as the more effective one in deciding the result.
Looking back, Wrexham had been trailing to QPR for most of the game. While Josh Windass’ stoppage goal brought the Reds on level terms, it was a 25-yard thunderbolt unleashed by Rathbone that secured a win for Wrexham against the odds.
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Not only did the screamer give Wrexham 3 crucial points, but it saw them jump from the 12th position to the 6th spot within seconds. It was a goal so special and effective that many, including assistant boss Steve Parkin, hailed it as the goal of the season.
Coming to reality, Rathbone’s belter has missed the monthly nomination for the best January goal.
However, that’s not one instance of Wrexham missing the Goal of the Month nominations. While QPR’s opening goal was chosen ahead of Rathbone’s winner, a couple of other Wrexham goals missed the nominations for other matchday picks.
Wrexham had a knack for worldies in January
Wrexham’s back-to-back-to-back promotion story has seen them score screamers time and again. But January 2026 was a special month that witnessed some memorable belters coming from the Reds’ players.
If Ollie Rathbone’s QPR was iconic, the attacker’s winner against Blackburn wasn’t far behind. Having scored an over-the-shoulder volley to put Wrexham 2-0 ahead on New Year’s Eve, Rathbone’s finish had a Van Basten touch in it.
However, Adam Randell’s screamer from a 30-yard distance got the nod over Rathbone’s volley from 12 yards out. With both coming on 1st January, EFL picked Randell’s goal to give multiple matchdays a say in their nominations.
A very similar situation happened in Matty James’ case against Derby. Despite firing a 30-yard curling strike to seal Wrexham’s win in a tricky contest, Matty James missed the nomination.
While the midfielder’s golazo proved decisive in securing Wrexham’s win and three points, it lost the nomination to Marvin Ducksch’s volley. With the latter’s goal being technically sound against league leaders Coventry, Ducksch’s goal was chosen for the 4th January matchday.
As a result, Wrexham lack their contender to vouch for in the Goal of the Month nominations. While this means an underappreciated January finish after Sam Smith and Parky’s losses to the Middlesbrough duo, the Reds ought to intend and fight for a better February.
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