Why mentality matters for Wrexham and their latest promotion bid

"Never, ever, ever count out Wrexham".

You would assume when co-chairman Rob McElhenney posted those words on his social media, he was referring to the way his side had just scored twice in injury time to breathlessly beat QPR at Loftus Road.

After all, as manager Phil Parkinson put it following whole-hearted celebrations in front of the away end: "Moments like that are what you're in the game for."

But given the 3-2 comeback win also put Wrexham into the play-off places for the first time since arriving in the Championship, perhaps McElhenney – or Rob Mac as he is now known – was hinting at something bigger.

After all, who could seriously discount the top-six threat of a team who have developed a habit for the dramatic finale befitting their script-writing ownership.

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There were 93 minutes on the Loftus Road clock when Josh Windass brilliantly levelled. The game had gone beyond the four added-on minutes by the time Ollie Rathbone had finished soaking up the adulation for his equally excellent winner.

It made it six times Wrexham have scored beyond the 90-minute mark this season, more than any club in the division.

And most have truly mattered, such as Max Cleworth's 95th minute point-earner against Blackburn in November, or Rathbone – again – scoring on 92 minutes to earn a draw against Watford.

Five points gained from a side who have earned 15 from losing positions.

Mentality matters.

"You saw how quickly we got the ball out of the back of the net and got back," Parkinson noted after Windass' equaliser. "You can feel it as a team sometimes. We could smell blood."

Rathbone concurred that the players felt there would be another chance, one he duly rattled home from long-range.

But it is not a new thing, late winners being a common occurrence during the three previous promotions won by this side.

Just looking at last year shows you that Wrexham won five League One games from goals with less than three minutes to go, but it stretches back to the time in non-league; Ben Foster's penalty save against Notts County would be worth a mention too.

"We've shown a lot of character over the last four years because - certainly in the last few divisions - we were a target everywhere we went due to the story of Wrexham," added Parkinson.

"Every ground was a sell-out so we've had to show a strong mentality. We've always brought players into the club who've got that mentality and we need to keep showing it."

'We have to make sure the dressing room is right'

The quality of the players they have bought along the way certainly helps, but for all the extra money spent, the attitude has not altered.

"The manager deserves credit for that because he assembles the group and he instils that belief in us," says Rathbone, last season's player of the year who is looking fully beyond the injury that delayed his impact this term.

"We've got a lot of new players over the last year or so, but they all buy into it.

"We're blessed with the depth through the squad because of the recruitment we've had.

"There's talent all the way through the pitch, but most of all there's a lot of really good lads who understand it's a team game. You're not going to play every minute, but when get on you help the squad as best you can."

Parkinson spoke of "professionalism" winning the day at Loftus Road, aware the likes of Rathbone and Windass could have every right to be "disgruntled" at being left out and wisely making a conscious effort before the game to "get the dressing room right - because we've always been about that".

"There is a togetherness about the group, and it showed today," he added.

There may be a few more players to insert into the mix soon, too.

With the transfer window entering its final week, Wrexham may well again follow a similar trait of previous seasons by boosting both excitement and options with an addition or two.

Parkinson has not bit on speculation over a record bid for Angers forward Sidiki Cherif, but – to paraphrase a certain celebrity co-chair – Wrexham making a move for a target or two cannot be counted out.

New heights bring new excitement

It will only add to the excitement of a fan base who, no matter what generation, will never have seen their club as high as this in the league system at this stage of a season.

"It is one game at a time but I think our performance levels over the last few months have really improved," added Rathbone.

"At the start of the season we were still finding our feet a little bit, the group were still coming together.

"But you can really seeing us growing into this division and we look a very good team well worth being in that top six."

Parkinson's mantra was about keeping focus, aware that this result came on the back of a disappointing home defeat by Norwich and a thrown-away draw against Leicester.

And in a congested table where you can slip as quickly as you can climb, the 58-year-old's wish is to try and to stay under the radar.

That is hard when your side deliver such dramatic wins.

More of the same, and there will not be many who would want to count out Wrexham.