Former Cardiff City winger Jobi McAnuff angers Wrexham with his completely biased EFL Championship playoffs verdict.
Tomorrow begins the 39th EFL Championship matchday. It’s the final gameweek in March, after which the fourth and last international break of the campaign will arrive.
From Wrexham’s point of view, the goal is simple. Beat Sheffield United in the Blades territory and chase Southampton to the extent ahead of the ultimate Wrexham vs Southampton showdown in April.
March has gone from horrible to worse for Phil Parkinson’s men, who have only won once out of 4 games across all competitions. That was a 2-0 statement win over Swansea City. If the full-time scenes at Sheffield United look anything apart from a Wrexham win, the Reds will have a hard time chasing Southampton with merely 4-5 weeks left in the season.
Elsewhere, the final week of March is often the time of playoffs debates among pundits and fans. Recently, ex-Leicester and West Brom man Curtis Davies reserved good praise for Wrexham. Still, it’s worth remembering that Phil Parkinson’s men are often nobody’s promotion favourites until they clinch promotion.
Jobi McAnuff doubts Wrexham over playoffs
Former Cardiff City winger Jobi McAnuff also falls in the same category of Wrexham doubters. Being a former Cardiff City player, it’s obvious to expect a bias from him against Cardiff’s Welsh peers Swansea City and Wrexham.
READ MORE: Ex-Leicester and West Brom star has immense respect for Wrexham
READ MORE: ‘Contact’ – Stunning Sheffield United transfer claim made over Josh Windass
READ MORE: ‘On another day’ – Watford defeat could have been avoided if not for 50-50 call
However, ignoring Wrexham while talking about every team’s playoffs finish chances is utterly ridiculous. In his own words, the BBC quoted Jobi McAnuff saying: “Watford are still in the mix. I feel like seven points feels a bit too big at this stage of the season. Birmingham feels a little far away. Southampton are the ones I believed would come through and get a play-off place.”
Later, McAnuff even threw doubts at Hull City’s top 6 position. He added: “A couple of weeks ago I’d have said there’s only one place up for grabs (sixth). That’s changed now, Hull have been really inconsistent so they have been brought into it a lot more.”
Again, McAnuff just ignored Wrexham from the playoffs talks. That just shows how many pundits Wrexham will prove wrong if they somehow made their way to the Premier League in May.
Watford, Birmingham City and Wrexham fixtures comparison
Starting from Watford, they have arguably got the easiest fixture list left over here. The Hornets play relegation battling Leicester City tomorrow and have winnable fixtures against QPR, Charlton Athletic and Oxford United lined up next.
On paper, Watford can bridge the gap to Wrexham in the next 4 games. But that would mean a huge failure on Wrexham’s part given they still lead the Hornets by 5 points despite the 3-1 midweek defeat.
READ MORE: Ex-Leicester and West Brom star has immense respect for Wrexham
READ MORE: ‘Contact’ – Stunning Sheffield United transfer claim made over Josh Windass
READ MORE: ‘On another day’ – Watford defeat could have been avoided if not for 50-50 call
Moving to Birmingham City, calling them as playoffs hopefuls is definitely an overstatement. The Blues couldn’t beat a 10-man Sheffield United at home last week. Tomorrow, they have a tough away day at Derby County.
Then, Birmingham City also have to play Ipswich Town, Hull City and Wrexham in April. Not to forget Birmingham City are 7 points behind Wrexham with only one game to go before the international break.
Lastly, let’s head to Wrexham’s upcoming schedule. The Reds are in Sheffield to play the Blades on the weekend, having already hit Chris Wilder’s men for 5 on Boxing Day.
Games against lowly lying West Brom, Oxford United and the inconsistent Stoke City as well as Birmingham City are also remaining in April. Every Wrexham fan knows this stretch of games is well comfortable for an injury-stricken Reds side to handle.
It remains to be seen whether Wrexham does the needful and stays in the playoffs race throughout April or not.
READ MORE WREXHAM NEWS HERE:
- Ex-Leicester and West Brom star has immense respect for Wrexham
- ‘Contact’ – Stunning Sheffield United transfer claim made over Josh Windass
- ‘On another day’ – Watford defeat could have been avoided if not for 50-50 call
- Phil Parkinson names 1 injury that held Wrexham back (it’s not a midfielder)
- Sheffield United set to miss 23yo star vs Wrexham (got 2 assists in 5-3 game)
