The FA have punished Wrexham for a most talked about Championship moment involving a James McClean foul against Swansea City.
The previous long trip to Swansea City has done quite a lot of damage to Wrexham’s season. Still saying it, Swansea were a relatively lightweight task to handle for the Red Dragons than coming opponents Sheffield United and Preston North End and there’s a reason behind it.
The Swans weren’t flying high all year like Preston and neither were they packing non-stop wins like the Blades, meaning the three points on offer were Wrexham’s to lose. What followed was a hundred minutes of chaotic football, and Phil Parkinson’s side literally fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Wrexham’s sinking ship wasn’t done falling at the full-time moment. With the way the 2-1 goal unfolded, Arthur Okonkwo’s reputation definitely took a hit among brilliant Championship keepers on the rise.
Lewis O’Brien’s horrific fall on his knee has fans fearing the worst for the verdict on the games he will miss. Wrexham’s central midfield is hard done by without LOB, you just have to admit from a fan’s point of view.
George Dobson put the strongest Wrexham display from the middle of the park vs Swansea, and now he has got to step up massively. Wait, Dobson might be Parkinson’s biggest hope from midfield because another blow has arrived without knocking on the door.
FA announce James McClean punishment to Wrexham
The FA has punished Wrexham and surprise, surprise, the reason is down to the Swansea City outing itself. Everyone knows that the scorecard turned sweet for the Swans but even afterwards, their fans were still losing their minds for a James McClean foul.
Honestly, the Wrexham skipper made a bad challenge on Swansea’s Ronald and then went past him in an aggressive manner. This whole sequence was quite wrong on McClean’s part, and I’m not defending him here.
Yet, the South Welsh side’s fanbase is exaggerating McClean’s action because rewinding the clip hints that the 36 year old didn’t hit the Swansea winger. This passage of play has stirred a back and forth online debate between Wrexham and Swansea faithfuls over the past days.
I will admit it again, the benefit of doubt lies in Swansea City’s favour and how their fans are interpreting the foul. Unluckily, the FA also sides with them and has imposed a harsh penalty on Wrexham.
Going by the announcement on the Dragons’ official website: “Wrexham can confirm James McClean will be suspended for three matches, following an incident in the match against Swansea City.”
What’s next for James McClean and Wrexham?
For James McClean, it’s crystal clear that his New Year holiday has been indirectly extended for a couple of weeks. The Irish international will next warm-up in a Wrexham kit in 2026, and boss Parkinson has to spread the midfield workload elsewhere.
Nathan Broadhead will be a sure-shot favourite to cover the left flank, but that will leave Wrexham less defence-oriented in wide areas. Consequently, wing back Ryan Barnett and Watford draw hero Ollie Rathbone could be relied upon to balance the lineup.
Overall, McClean’s absence is a blessing in disguise for the underused Broadhead who has had a stop-start career at the Racecourse so far. As for friday’s visitors Sheffield United, they aren’t an unknown challenge for the Welshman.
Broadhead netted a consolation goal in a 2-1 Blades defeat in the 2022/23 Championship campaign. Coincidentally, he had McClean on his side back then in a Wigan Athletic kit.
For Boxing Day, there will be no McClean around and hopefully the outcome will be a satisfying one for Broadhead as well as Wrexham.
