A successful penalty attempt by Josh Windass ensured Wrexham concluded their pre-international break schedule with a 1-0 victory over Charlton, a team they battled for promotion with last season.
This Saturday’s Championship match occurred roughly half a year following Wrexham’s accomplishment of a third consecutive promotion, marked by a 3-0 triumph over Charlton at the enthusiastic SToK Cae Ras.
Charlton, also promoted from League One via the playoffs, experienced their five-game unbeaten streak come to an end as Windass converted the penalty earned when Onel Hernández was deemed to have committed a handball.
The penalty, occurring in the 77th minute, marked the Welsh team’s third successive home league victory in the second tier, a feat unmatched since 1982, augmenting their notable win against Coventry and a mid-week tie at Portsmouth.
Both sides had opportunities to score in a balanced first half, with Harvey Knibbs, included in Charlton’s starting lineup by Nathan Jones, hitting the goal frame.
Kieffer Moore presented a significant challenge to Charlton’s defense, and Windass’s second-half penalty put Wrexham in the lead, with Arthur Okonkwo’s critical save from Luke Berry in added time securing the win.
Charlton’s manager Jones was met with vocal disapproval from the local fans from the beginning throughout the match in north Wales; his start to the afternoon could have been ideal if Okonkwo hadn’t stopped Sonny Carey’s attempt within the first minute.
Ryan Longman’s hopeful attempt was caught as Wrexham sought to recover from a shaky start, with Max Cleworth forcing Thomas Kaminski into making a save following skillful play by Moore.
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The imposing Wales international’s shot went across the face of the goal after James Bree’s attempt at the other end was stopped, and Charlton almost scored in the 36th minute.
Wrexham’s captain Dominic Hyam blocked a shot, and Knibbs reacted by powerfully striking the crossbar.
Longman’s shot went over the bar before a break Phil Parkinson’s team would return from with enhanced purpose and intensity.
Charlton were pushed back, having to defend crosses effectively, but they were fortunate when Moore was allowed to connect with a header from a corner that went across the goal in the 57th minute.
The home side continued to create problems, and a well-timed challenge from Knibbs frustrated Moore shortly before Parkinson made a triple substitution.
Windass was among the players introduced and soon made a decisive impact. Substitute Hernandez was deemed to have handled the ball, and Windass powerfully struck his penalty past Kaminski.
“Football in a circus,” chanted the home supporters in response to Jones’s remarks about the ambitious Wrexham from last season.
Kaminski prevented Windass and Moore from further increasing the lead, but Wrexham had Okonkwo to thank in the ninth minute of stoppage time, as he made an excellent save from substitute Berry’s header.
