Ratings
Matty James carried Wrexham closer to the Championship playoffs as they beat Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park this afternoon.
Sam Smith had put the visitors ahead before Ben Brereton Diaz levelled as an entertaining first-half came to a close.
But James struck the winner when he seized on a poor pass from Sondre Langas which allowed James to curl in from outside the box.
Wrexham started with a great deal of intensity and purpose and could have been ahead early on when Josh Windass’ curling effort bounced off the post and fell into the path of Nathan Broadhead who lashed wide of the post.
Sam Smith then headed wide of the post from a Ryan Longman cross which only created more noise in the away end.
When Patrick Agyemang lost possession facing his own goal, Windass then broke and forced a wonderful save from Zetterstrom.
Derby took a while to offer a threat themselves, but they had a decent chance from a corner routine when Callum Elder picked out Rhian Brewster but he scuffed his shot straight at Arthur Okonkwo.
Bobby Clark then could have given Derby the lead when he was picked out by Brewster but he could only drag wide of the post.
But with their next attack, Wrexham were ahead when a pass from Broadhead found Sam Smith who was too quick for Matt Clarke to prod the visitors into the lead.
Derby’s response was emphatic however as Clarke won a tackle with his pass matching the run of Brereton Diaz who raced towards goal. He had Brewster in support but used his run as a decoy to beat his man and find the bottom corner.
After half-time, however, Derby were behind when a careless pass from Sondre Langas was seized by Matty James who curled a terrific effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
Joe Ward fancied his chances from a free-kick but his effort was saved by Okonkwo as Derby pushed for a quick equaliser. But as the half wore on, Wrexham looked a threat on the counter attack.
Ollie Rathbone saw a thunderbolt tipped over the bar before Brereton Diaz picked out the run of Clark who fed a ball into the six-yard box which just eluded substitute Kayden Jackson.
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