Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was pleased with his promotion-chasing side’s “professionalism and game management” in sweeping aside Grimsby with a 3-1 victory at Blundell Park.
Andy Cannon led the way with a first-half double and Paul Mullin also scored, with Grimsby substitute Arthur Gnahoua netting a late consolation.
Victory moved Wrexham three points behind table-topping Mansfield as the Mariners, who headed into the game on a six-match unbeaten run, hold a six-point advantage on Sutton and Forest Green in the relegation zone.
Parkinson said: “It was a good win for us in very difficult conditions.
“The wind was always going to impact on the game, but our professionalism and game management was very good, particularly in the first half.
“It was important for us to show quality (when we needed to) and we did that to create those chances and ultimately take them.
“After our last game we addressed some things in training and the concentration levels were much better from us and where they needed to be.
“Credit to Grimsby as well because David (Artell) has instilled a spirit there, in the last few games in particular, and they have had some good results.
“They are a tough team to play against, but we managed the game well and take three points back across the M62 with us.”
Grimsby head coach Artell added: “Wrexham took their goals well, but from our point of view all three were preventable.
“I thought we were slightly below the standards we have set for ourselves over the last six games and that’s why we got punished.
“We’ve got to make sure we maintain our standards, and that’s the key thing for me because that’s what we can control. After our six-match unbeaten run, we’ve got to make sure one defeat doesn’t turn into two or three.
“We want to get on another six-match unbeaten run and, if we do that, we’ve got a great chance of staying up.”
Rooney lauds 'excellent' Plymouth defence in Luton victory
Wayne Rooney credited Plymouth Argyle's defensive showing as crucial in their 3-1 triumph over Luton Town at Home Park on Friday.
Plymouth took the lead in the eighth minute courtesy of Rami Al Hajj, with the Swede notching his first Pilgrims goal with a curled finish beyond Thomas Kaminski.
The hosts found themselves two goals in front 20 minutes from time after substitute Ibrahim Cissoko shifted the ball onto his left foot before firing a stunning effort into the far corner.
Plymouth's joy was short-lived, though, as Victor Moses chested down Alfie Doughty's cross to the back post before striking the ball beyond Daniel Grimshaw less than two minutes later.
The Hatters continued to pile on the pressure in search of an equaliser but were undone by a moment of individual brilliance from Cissoko, who danced his way into the area and saw his first effort blocked, but finished the rebound to move Plymouth up to 13th in the Championship.
Rooney has now guided his side to back-to-back home victories for the first time this season, and said his side had to adapt to Luton's relentless attacking to emerge victorious.
"I thought it was a good performance for different reasons," Rooney said.
"I thought first half we were good at times, controlled the tempo of the game and Luton tried to press us, and I think when we showed composure and played through the press we caused them problems.
"Second half we were a little bit sloppy with the ball and gave it away in dangerous areas at times, but I thought defensively our back four, and in particular the two centre-backs, were excellent.
"Luton are very good at set-pieces and I thought we were brilliant defending them and showed great character and desire to go and head the ball, and then the attacking players get all the praise when they score the goals."
For Rob Edwards, a run of back-to-back victories ended on the South Coast, with his side lacking a clinical edge in front of goal.
The Hatters registered 16 shots during the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.07, but only two of his side's efforts were on target.
"Credit to the opposition, at both ends of the pitch they were better - they were more ruthless at one end and defended better at the other," Edwards said.
"I think we got into their final third 40-odd times, twice as often as they did, but we didn't make their goalkeeper work enough.
"We weren't clinical enough at one and end then didn't defend well enough at the other -it's not a good recipe to win a football match.
"It's really frustrating to come away losing a game talking about both ends of the pitch."
Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Rennes: Barcola shines ahead of Arsenal clash
Bradley Barcola continued his scoring streak for Paris Saint-Germain as his brace helped the Ligue 1 leaders to a 3-1 victory over Rennes at the Parc des Princes.
The hosts were almost handed the perfect start when Marquinhos turned home Achraf Hakimi's corner, only for the goal to be chalked off by VAR after the Brazilian finished in an offside position.
But the Parisiens opened the scoring in the 30th minute through their star man as Barcola curled a fine effort beyond Steve Mandanda into the far corner after Christopher Wooh gave the ball away cheaply to Joao Neves.
Luis Enrique's side were unable to increase their advantage before the break but got the goal their performance merited shortly after the interval when Lee Kang-In headed into an empty net following Barcola's effort striking the post.
The result was then put beyond doubt 10 minutes later as a free-flowing move saw Hakimi's dangerous delivery to the back post turned home by Barcola.
Rennes would get themselves on the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Beraldo handled Hans Hateboer's goal-bound header, with Arnaud Kalimuendo stepping up from 12 yards and sending Matvey Safonov the wrong way.
Data Debrief: Barcola breaking Mbappe mould
Barcola netted his second brace of the season on Friday, taking his tally to six goals in six games so far, two more than he managed for the whole of last season (four goals in 26 appearances).
The 22-year-old also ended the contest with more shots on target (four), and touches in the opposition box (13) than any other PSG player, registering a team-high expected goals (xG) tally of 0.92 to the hosts' 2.72 total.
Dembele also impressed for Luis Enrique's side. He now has 11 assists since the start of last season in Ligue 1, at least two more than any other player over that period.
The France international has also been involved in a goal in three consecutive league games for the second time in 32 appearances for PSG (four from November to December in 2023).
Milan 3-0 Lecce: Quickfire goals seal Rossoneri triumph
Three goals in five first-half minutes was enough to see Milan earn a third consecutive Serie A win as they swept aside Lecce 3-0 at the San Siro.
An open start to proceedings saw Mike Maignan called into action to deny the visitors from taking the lead, with the French goalkeeper turning Nikola Krstovic's effort from distance around the post.
But Paulo Fonseca's side found the breakthrough in the 38th minute when Alvaro Morata nodded Theo Hernandez's teasing free-kick in off the crossbar.
Milan's opener saw a swagger emerge in their play, with the hosts doubling their advantage two minutes later when Rafael Leao's ball in behind the Lecce defence picked out Hernandez, who struck emphatically beyond Wladimiro Falcone.
But the quickfire blitz was not finished there. Tammy Abraham was twice denied in quick succession by the post and the palms of Falcone, with his second effort dropping fortuitously to Christian Pulisic who finished from close range.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek came closest to increasing Milan's lead after the break, clipping the crossbar with an attempted cross, with Davide Bartesaghi's sending off in the 80th minute taking the shine off an otherwise impressive showing from the Rossoneri.
Data Debrief: Fonseca finding his feet
After a difficult start to his Milan tenure, Fonseca has finally got his side playing, with their win over Lecce making it three consecutive wins in Serie A.
The hosts ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.59 from their 15 shots, six of which were on target.
Leao's assist for Hernandez's goal was his sixth goal involvement against Lecce (five goals and one assist), the most he has managed against a team in Serie A alongside Hellas Verona and Roma.
Only Barcelona (10) have scored more goals than Milan (nine) in the first half across Europe's top five major leagues so far this season.
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