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Football Insider

Late Drama at Racecourse Ground: Wrexham Foiled in Championship Playoff Push

Despite a valiant effort, Wrexham's dreams of edging closer to the Championship playoff places were dashed in a thrilling encounter against Leicester. Read on for a detailed account of the match's key moments and the implications for Wrexham's promotion aspirations.

Late Drama at Racecourse Ground: Wrexham Foiled in Championship Playoff Push

Wrexham missed the chance to move to the brink of the playoff places in the Championship on Tuesday night after being denied victory against Leicester. Lewis O'Brien looked to have secured all three points for the hosts but the Welsh side were left frustrated when Jannik Vestergaard pulled one back for the Foxes in the 90th minute as the game ended all square.Both sides struggled for chances in the first half in wet and windy conditions but did manage to carve out an opportunity each just before the break. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was called into action first, reacting bravely to block an effort from Bobby De Cordova-Reid inside the penalty area from a ball in by Stephy Mavididi. Minutes later, Max Cleworth did well down the left and tried to tee up Kieffer Moore for a tap-in only for goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk to block his low cross.Wrexham started the second half the stronger of the two sides, as the game finally sparked into life, with Ryan Longman and Ollie Rathbone both having efforts at goal but being unable to beat Stolarczyk. The action promptly switched to the other end as Leicester hit back on the break with a quick counter. Mavididi ran through on goal and fired a low shot that Okonkwo managed to block. However, the pressure eventually told as Wrexham broke the deadlock on 62 minutes through O'Brien.Liberato Cacace was sent free down the left and whipped in a ball for Moore. The Wrexham striker couldn't quite get his toe on the end of it but goalkeeper Stolarczy could only touch it into the path of O'Brien to slot into an empty net. Wrexham may have expected a fightback from Leicester but the Foxes offered very little in the way of a response and barely threatened. Yet there was late drama when Leicester won a free-kick just outside the penalty area in the closing stages. The ball was played in for Caleb Okoli to knock down to Vestergaard who kept his composure to finish and snatch a point.O'Brien thought he'd won it for Wrexham with his first goal since September. It was an easy finish in the end for the 27-year-old but a deserved reward for a hard-working performance. The midfielder's energy and relentless running after the break were key to Wrexham's improvement in the second half.Wrexham's promotion hopes took something of a blow on Tuesday night as Leicester's late goal saw Phil Parkinson's side denied a precious three points. Victory would have taken Wrexham up into seventh place in the table but level on points with Preston in the final playoff spot. However, Vestergaard's late equaliser means Wrexham end the day down in ninth and still with plenty of work to do to keep their dreams of a top-six finish alive.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

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Wrexham vs. Leicester: A Clash of Fortunes

Wrexham went into the game with high hopes of securing a crucial victory that would propel them towards the cusp of the Championship playoff spots. However, their aspirations were dealt a blow as Leicester managed to snatch a late point, leaving both sides with a share of the spoils.

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O'Brien's Heroics and Vestergaard's Equalizer

Lewis O'Brien emerged as a standout performer for Wrexham, netting a vital goal to put his side ahead in the second half. The midfielder's relentless work rate and energy were instrumental in Wrexham's improved showing post the interval. Nevertheless, Jannik Vestergaard's late strike for Leicester undid Wrexham's lead, denying them what would have been a vital win in their quest for playoff contention.

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Promotion Hopes Hang in the Balance

The draw proved to be a setback for Wrexham, as a victory would have seen them climb into the top seven and level on points with the final playoff spot. Instead, the late equalizer means they find themselves in ninth place after the match, with a challenging road ahead to secure a coveted top-six finish. Phil Parkinson's side must regroup and refocus to keep their promotion dreams alive in the competitive Championship landscape.

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Looking Ahead

As the dust settles on a pulsating encounter at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham must learn from the missed opportunity against Leicester and channel their determination into upcoming fixtures. With the Championship playoff race intensifying, every point is crucial, and Wrexham will need to showcase resilience and composure in their pursuit of a promotion to the Premier League.

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Published on Jan 20, 2026