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Wrexham secured comfortable League One win at Northampton
PHIL PARKINSON hailed his side’s mentality on the road as Wrexham beat Northampton Town 2-0 to make it back-to-back away wins in League One for the first time this season.
The Reds scored twice in three minutes during the first-half at Sixfields Stadium through Sam Smith – on target for the first time since arriving from Reading during the winter transfer window – and Ollie Rathbone’s fourth strike of the campaign.
The victory came a fortnight after promotion hopefuls Wrexham triumphed 2-1 at Crawley Town and while the away form is less impressive than the fantastic record at The Racecourse, Parkinson is pleased his side have strung some wins together on their travels with more than 1,400 supporters making their way to Northampton for the lunchtime kick-off.
“Of course it’s always harder away from home but it’s important (to win back-to-back away games),” said the Reds’ boss.
“I thought there was a good mentality about us against Northampton and at Crawley.
“We started the game brilliant against Crawley and should have been three-up in the first 15 minutes. We went and got the goal and the way we responded as well in that game was superb.
“Of course we’re very pleased and it was a great following again at Northampton.
“It is just amazing support we get on our travels and I’m sure the supporters are driving home in good spirits.”
Parkinson is glad to see Smith, brought in on for a club transfer record fee, get off the mark.
“I am very pleased for Sam, he took his goal really well,” he said.
“When you come to a new club, you want to get that first goal and get off and running but his all-round play was excellent as well, and that was just as important for us.”
Wrexham went route one for the goal as Smith raced onto goalkeeper Mark Howard’s long clearance to put his side 1-0 up.
“It was just one of those speculative strikes, Sam has gambled and he has got in,” added Parkinson.
Rathbone quickly made it 2-0 and the in-form midfielder earned praise from his manager as Wrexham – 11 points behind leaders Birmingham City but only two adrift of second placed Wycombe Wanderers – registered a comfortable win in pursuit of an unprecedented third promotion in a row.
“Ollie has incredible energy, but quality as well,” he added.
“I have known Ollie a long time and he is infectious in terms of the way he runs and closes down.
“He has got real quality in the top third of the pitch, there are so many moments that he has produced for us and it was a good finish across the goalkeeper.”
