WREXHAM
How did Wrexham do in their first game back in the English Football League in 15 years?
Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney didn’t see their team get off to the start they wanted in an eight-goal thriller.
Wrexham made their long-awaited return to the English Football League on Saturday as they played host to MK Dons in League Two at STōK Cae Ras (AKA the Racecourse Ground). A capacity crowd was treated to an eight-goal thriller in north Wales, but the majority of those in attendance, including owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, went home disappointed.
Wrexham’s popularity booming among US sports fans
The Red Dragons have, of course, become famous worldwide after being taken over by Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney in November 2020, which then led to the all-access docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which premiered on pay television channel FX in the United States.
According to data from Google Trends earlier this year, Wrexham AFC (Association Football Club), to give them their full name, generated more searches on Google than a number of traditional American sports teams. The club went on a pre-season tour of the United States this summer, beating a Manchester United fringe team and also playing against Premier League side Chelsea, as well LA Galaxy and Philadelphia Union’s reserve teams.
Wrexham lose 5-3 in first game back in the EFL?
Their spell back in English League Two, however, couldn’t got off to a worse start, as they found themselves 2-0 down to MK Dons inside the first 10 minutes, which included an own goal from defender Eoghan O’Connell.
Jacob Mendy halved the deficit just before half time to give Wrexham hope going into the second half but two goals from Dons striker Jonathan Leko meant the contest was all but over with just over an hour gone.
The Welsh side did keep plugging away and managed to get a couple of goals back in the closing stages, although strikes from Jordan Davies and Anthony Foyle, the latter deep into injury time, came either side of a fifth for the visitors.
How many matches will Wrexham play in League Two?
A 5-3 defeat leaves Wrexham in 21st place in a 24-team league. But given that there are a total of 46 matches to play in League Two, it’s probably not worth reading too much into the standings until a few weeks into the season.