Wrexham AFC: If Wycombe Wanderers win promotion race, February development will feel a huge moment | OneFootball

The loss of Andy Cannon through injury may be the reason Wrexham AFC miss an automatic promotion

In the final stretch of the League One campaign, Wrexham AFC are in a dogfight for that final automatic promotion.

With four matches remaining, the Red Dragons are just a single point above Wycombe Wanderers in the hunt for second, and the margin of error at this stage is virtually nil.

Phil Parkinson’s men have ground out victories time and again this season and are on the verge of a berth in the Championship. Without one of their more creative and versatile midfielders, though, this team’s chances of claiming second place will not be easy.

Andy Cannon’s impact in the Wrexham midfield

The Red Dragons have relied on a different approach to try and earn a third successive promotion. This season, the club have depended on having a solid defensive backline, with tireless workhorses in midfield, and the hope they can produce one moment of brilliance in the attacking third.

That approach has worked through most of the campaign, thanks in part to a former Hull City midfielder, Andy Cannon, who hasn’t played since February but has made a big impact in the midfield.

Cannon netted two League One goals this season before sustaining a knee injury in their match with Mansfield Town in February. He also scored two winning goals in their run to the Vertu Trophy semi-finals.

Before his injury, Cannon was one of the best players Wrexham had in terms of creativity as a central midfielder, with the closest person to him being Ollie Rathbone. Cannon won 76.7% of his duels per FotMob in League One this season and had 39 touches in the opposition box.

At both ends of the pitch, he’s been a force for this team, and though he’s netted six fewer goals domestically than a season ago, Cannon’s individual quality at that position has been sorely missed over the past couple of months.

Wrexham have had their share of impactful difference-makers this season, including Rathbone, Steven Fletcher, and Max Cleworth. At the same time, Cannon may be the one player in central midfield with the skill to unlock the opposition that Wrexham are desperately missing at the moment.

Since his serious knee injury left him out for the season, Phil Parkinson has had to sacrifice creativity and attacking prowess in the midfield to try and get over the line. That’s led to a Wrexham side that has, at times, looked rather dull in the centre of the field while their strikers have had to work extremely hard to get into good scoring positions.

Josh Adam and Harry Ashfield have raw talent and skill in attacking midfield roles but with limited experience, it’s far too risky for Parkinson to play them now with the season possibly on the line.

Unfortunately, the Wrexham boss has few experienced options in central midfield who have the flair of Cannon, so he’s had to put Matty James and George Dobson together, two players who’ve been subpar and have no chemistry whatsoever and not much attacking vision. While they are dogged and hard-working midfielders, they are not as great in the tight spaces as Cannon, while James is average in his duels.

Without Cannon, this team have had difficulty finding many big chances, which has led to many nervy and uneasy matches and finishes for Wrexham, more than we’re used to.

Andy Cannon’s injury could be a defining moment

It’s been a nervy couple of months for the Red Dragons in League One, and it’s not helped to have a player of Cannon’s quality out injured. Since he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, the North Welsh side have suffered one defeat in their previous 10 league fixtures while dropping points on three occasions.

Last week, Wrexham failed to create a single big chance and it was the eighth time they failed to find the back of the net domestically this season. Cannon’s ability to change a game with his individual quality could be a defining factor down the stretch of this season.

While Wycombe have the tougher schedule compared to Wrexham down the stretch of the League One campaign, the Red Dragons can’t rely on other clubs to help them by taking points away from the Chairboys. They need to find ways to win and will be playing some desperate teams in the coming weeks.

Bristol Rovers are in the final relegation place but only behind Burton Albion and League One salvation on goal difference. Blackpool still have an outside chance of making the play-offs, nine points back of that final spot with four games remaining heading into matchday 42 this upcoming weekend.

Wrexham supporters have reason to be optimistic their side will earn a third successive promotion. However, just as much uneasiness could be felt given how much the Red Dragons have struggled to create chances for long stretches of a match. The void left by Cannon’s injury may cost this team an automatic promotion at the conclusion of this season, and if that's the case and Wycombe pip them, that February injury date will be one that haunts the club.