Phil Parkinson believes there is plenty more to come from his Wrexham side after they extended their unbeaten league run to six games with a 2-1 win over Doncaster.
An Elliot Lee strike with two minutes remaining bagged all three points for the Red Dragons, who move into the League Two play-off places, while Grant McCann’s wait for Rovers’ first win of the season goes on.
Wrexham took the lead in the 37th minute when Luke Young’s effort was deflected past the helpless Ian Lawlor in the Rovers goal after Ollie Palmer and Lee had come close moments earlier.
But Doncaster continued to look threatening and their pressure was rewarded in the 52nd minute when Mo Faal nodded home from close range after some nice work down the left by Joe Ironside.
The home side could have retaken the lead when Will Boyle’s header flashed wide and Palmer’s effort was saved by Lawlor, but it was Lee who ensured the win with a rasping shot from the edge of the box in the 88th minute.
That victory makes it nine games unbeaten across all competitions for Wrexham, who have not tasted defeat in League Two since the first game of the season, while Doncaster remain bottom of the table with just two points from seven games.
Wrexham manager Parkinson said: “I feel the team can only get better and better, we have a lot of talent to come back, so it’s up to us to get those players who have been out up to speed, but it’s a good dilemma to have.
“We’ve brought in good characters who are also good lads, not just when they are in the team but also when they are out of it.
“It was very tough conditions to play in today with the heat and we probably didn’t have the intensity that we usually have at the Racecourse, but sometimes you’ve just got to get over the line and win.
“There are times when you don’t play at your best and today was a little bit scrappy and the conditions probably contributed to that, but the lads always dig deep.
“It’s great to have Paul Mullin back and he’s getting stronger each day, also Steven Fletcher coming on made a great contribution for the last 20 minutes.”
Doncaster boss Grant McCann said: “We can take some positives from the game and I’m disappointed as I thought we were the better team today.
“We’ve given them two very soft goals, the first one we switched off on the edge of the box and the second we allowed the player to get a shot on goal.
“We’ve got a lot of young lads in the team but that’s something we have to work on and we have to make sure the boys understand what we want them to do.
“I feel we are not far away but I can’t keep saying that as we are seven games in now. I said to the boys that we are pretty on the eye but we’re getting zero points from it.
“That’s not what my teams are about and never have been and that’s something that has to change going forward.”
International record goalscorer Sinclair to retire after NWSL season
Christine Sinclair, the all-time record goalscorer in international football, will retire at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League in November.
Sinclair, 41, has 190 goals in 331 appearances for Canada, making her the top scorer across both men's and women's football.
She has played for the NWSL's Portland Thorns since 2013, helping them to win the inaugural title that year. She added further league crowns to her collection in 2017 and 2022.
The Canadian great has had similar success with her national team, winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is also one of three players to score at five World Cups, alongside Brazil's Marta and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sinclair retired from international football in December 2023, and will now call time on her club career.
"Portland, thank you will never be enough. Soccer has been my passion since I was four years old and it has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined," Sinclair wrote on Instagram.
"As I finish out this last ride, I want to say what a privilege it has been to represent this unique, beautiful, and passionate city that I will always call home."
Dorival calls for patience over Neymar's Brazil return
Brazil head coach Dorival Junior called for Neymar to be given as much time as he needs to make a full recovery from a knee injury before returning to the national side.
Neymar ruptured his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while on international duty last October in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, missing the Copa America as a result.
The 32-year-old underwent surgery and returned to training with Al-Hilal in July, but he is yet to make his comeback, with head coach Jorge Jesus saying this week the Brazilian was not ready.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances and is 15 caps shy of breaking Cafu's record for the most outings for the Selecao.
But the forward is again missing from the Brazil squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru next month, with Dorival saying he will wait until the right moment to welcome Neymar back into the fold.
"We'll wait, we'll be patient, it doesn't matter if he can't come back in October, November or even February," Dorival said.
"He needs to be confident, he needs to play and above all he needs to be completely healed from this injury.
"We are starting to realise how important he is.
"If he returns in the coming years, we will have one of the greatest players in world football at a remarkable moment in his career and in our national team."
Dorival recalled Barcelona winger Raphinha and Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli for their upcoming fixtures next month.
Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick were the other attacking options included for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have 10 points from eight qualifiers after losing four of their last five matches, leaving them fifth and just one point above Paraguay, who occupy the play-off spot.
Guardiola declares "war" on Arsenal in escalating rivalry
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City had been "provoked" into a "war" with Arsenal after the two sides drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium in a drama-filled clash.
City players John Stones and Kyle Walker suggested the Gunners used the "dark arts" as they sought to defend a 2-1 lead in the second half with 10 men.
Mikel Arteta's men had just one shot and 12.4% possession following the break, after Leandro Trossard had been sent off just before half-time.
While Stones salvaged a point with a late equaliser, Arsenal’s defensive approach led Guardiola to call into question what had previously been a cordial relationship with former protegee Arteta.
"Gabriel [Magalhaes] said it perfectly in the press after the match, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You provoke me, OK, I'm there," the City boss told the media.
"You want a war? Now we war."
Last Sunday's result means City have failed to beat Arsenal in their last four meetings in all competitions.
Arsenal had overturned a 1-0 deficit in the first half after an early Erling Haaland goal to lead 2-1 through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel.
When asked about accusations of the "dark arts", Arteta reflected the claims back on his opponents in reference to the time he spent at City as Guardiola's assistant.
"I was there for four years. I have all the information, so I know, believe me," the Spaniard jibed.
The City boss responded: "Next time Mikel has to be more clear about exactly what he means.
"He said he was here four years and knows exactly what happened here. That can be related to the process now with 115 charges, maybe he knows information about that? Or maybe he had something like, I don't know?
"Hopefully, this question has been asked, and he can answer exactly what he means."
Arteta is still hugely respectful of his former mentor.
"I love him, I respect him, and I admire him. I admire his team and everything that he does," added Arteta.
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