The ACN Match Review: Wrexham (a)

How did we play?

I once saw the big famous Hollywood sign from a distance while on holiday in Los Angeles. But a trip to TV’s famous Wrexham is the closest I’ve ever got to the glitz and glamour of the big time. Wrexham came into the game unbeaten at home since September. The form guide looked like a misspelt URL: WWWW. Then along came Norwich. 

We were excellent. The opening spell that saw Slimane’s superb finish and the bar rattled by Ali Ahmed was buzzing. Wrexham really got hold of the game for the rest of the half, and we were probably a bit fortunate to not be behind at the break. But in the second half, in every area of the field, we were superb. Ruairi McConville, Kenny McLean, Pelle Mattsson, Jovon Makama. So many stand-out performances.

Super soaraway scintillating soccer from the increasingly on-song Canaries. We have some way to go to dig ourselves out of the mire. While we’re only a few points off those above us, they have games in hand. But the form table doesn’t lie, and we’re in 7th over the last ten games. 

What was the best bit of the game?

What a goal from Jovon Makama. I feared he’d got the ball tangled under his feet, but what a finish he then unleashed. 

But not just the finish: all the way from the back, powered by the Mayor of Norwich himself, this was the sort of flowing move we love to see. 

It would be churlish to say we can easily discard stroppy teen Josh Sargent. But thank goodness Makama is about as good as we could have possibly dreamed he’d be when he was signed from Lincoln in the summer. 

What was the worst bit of the game?

I’ve seen better facilities at League Two grounds, but in fairness things were still better than Selhurst Park. So I’ll lump for the fella behind me updating everyone about what scores from around the grounds meant for his FPL team. Dire chat. 

What was the atmosphere like?

My first visit to the Racecourse Ground and a lovely day out it was too. The city itself is friendly, the pubs are nice, and despite being three-sided while they develop one end, the noise carried well under low roofs. 

There was an absence of songs about Josh Sargent which was excellent. He’s an irrelevance until he’s not. It was good to hear city fans focused on the players willing to be on the pitch. 

City fans were in fine voice throughout and really stepped things up in the second half. The celebrations at the end were l o u d. And it was good to see Kenny get the plaudits his performance deserved. 

Finally, a shout out to the calm and professional way the medical emergency was handled by everyone. 

Hero of the match

Vladan Kovačević. He’s not for those of a nervous disposition, but we owe at least two of our points to him for the worldy save he made. Wrexham fans behind his goal were already celebrating when he clawed it back off the line from behind his body. Seeing is believing but I still have no idea how he did it. 

Summary in Five Words

The great escape is on.