Nathan Broadhead's early goal and a determined defensive effort with ten men earned Wrexham a 1-0 victory over Oxford United and their first home Championship win of the season at the Racecourse. The forward struck after just 14 minutes and, even after Callum Doyle's 67th-minute red card, Phil Parkinson's side clung on through a frantic finale to finally break their home hoodoo.
The result ended Wrexham's four-game winless run and lifted them up to 15th in the table, while condemning Oxford to a sixth league defeat that leaves Gary Rowett's team 20th, a point above the relegation zone. It also extended Wrexham's long unbeaten run against Oxford to 13 games dating back to 1983, on a night when one of the Championship's worst home records met one of its worst away records and, as the numbers suggested, something had to give.
High press and early breakthrough reward Wrexham's intent
Parkinson had called for a performance full of quality and intensity after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City, making four changes to his starting XI, while Rowett kept faith with the same side that had beaten Derby County by the same scoreline. A kick-off delay caused by a power cut did nothing to disrupt the hosts' rhythm at the Stok Cae Ras, as Wrexham flew out of the blocks with a ferocious press that immediately penned Oxford back.