Aaron McLean Delivers EFL Insight Including Wrexham
September 20, 2026 ·
Aaron McLean gives his views on last weekend's EFL games, including Wrexham's win, QPR's performance and Bradford City's rise in League One.
Aaron McLean Delivers EFL Insight Including Wrexham
According to Bbc.
Background
Wrexham, fresh from their first home win of the season, now face the challenge of maintaining this form. With two wins to start the season, they need to show that they can compete with the other teams in the EFL and meet the increasing expectations of fans and club owners.
Why this is important
Wrexham's win over Southampton not only halted the opposition's unbeaten run, but also provided a much-needed confidence boost at the start of the season. With such a high public profile and the investment made, hopes for Wrexham remain high despite their showing of inconsistency. This is an important step in their journey in the EFL, especially as they look to improve in the remainder of the season.
Main Points
- Aaron McLean Delivers EFL Insight Including Wrexham.
- Aaron McLean gives his views on last weekend's EFL games, including Wrexham's win, QPR's performance and Bradford City's rise in League One.
- Aaron McLean's EFL takeaways including Wrexham, Bradford City and Gillingham - BBC Sport.
Former Peterborough United and Hull City striker and Final Score football expert Aaron McLean provides five key points after Saturday's action in the Championship, League One and League Two. Wrexham managed to halt Southampton's five-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 win, picking up their first home win of the season. Expectations remain high in north Wales, given the club's public profile and the investment made in the team, although they have still shown inconsistency at the start of this season.
McLean commented, "Do I think Wrexham are candidates for automatic promotion? Maybe not, but a win against Southampton would give them huge confidence. It was their second win of the season and they may be facing pressure for the first time. Last season, they were outstanding, and personally I think they have exceeded expectations, and the level of expectation has risen as a result, but the team hasn't quite lived up to it. Beating Southampton, one of the in-form teams in the division, would be a big help for them and Phil Parkinson. They need to be more clinical. You look at West Ham – 22 goals; Middlesbrough – 16 goals. At the top end of the pitch, they have players who can finish games Wrexham have drawn four games because they have not been able to finish games, but if they are in contention, I would not doubt that their owners in January will say, 'well, let's get the missing piece of the puzzle.
What about QPR remaining on the promotional radar? Given Preston's difficult position at the bottom of the Championship, QPR may have felt a 2-2 draw was two points lost, but they managed to come back from 2-0 down and earn a draw at Loftus Road following Dennis Cirkin's 15th-minute red card. Julien Stephan's side are currently fifth in the Championship table and remain involved in the promotion race. McLean said: "I've been very impressed with QPR. I think they have been outstanding and they can really stay in contention for a play-off spot. Glen Kamara in midfield is an outstanding player who I'm sure can play in the Premier League. Their recruitment has been excellent. With the squad they have, I really like their display this season. Over the last few years, they may have spent money in the wrong places but they have corrected that and can expect to have a very competitive season. Julien Stephan has done a very impressive job – the 7-1 defeat to Coventry has actually shaped them – and I'm really looking forward to seeing them throughout the rest of the season.
Bradford City, who have been waiting for victory over Luton Town for 58 years, have overtaken Sheffield Wednesday at the top of League One. The Bantams have scored just seven goals in seven games but have conceded just four - the best defensive record in the EFL. Naturally, given his history at Deepdale as a player, Graham Alexander has been linked with the vacant position at Preston North End. McLean commented, "Bradford is a great club, you only have to listen to the noise they make at Valley Parade and the support they get, and Graham Alexander is an outstanding manager who is at the right club to continue progress. This season, their ability to bounce back has really stood out. They won the first two games, then after losing two in a row, you think, 'is that just a good start?' but then they went and won three games in a row, so even in adversity they were able to bounce back and respond in the right way. Is their lack of goals sustainable for a promotion challenge? Maybe not, but right now, that's not necessary because they're so good defensively and so hard to beat. And that's from front to back and when they get the lead, they know how to end the game. I hope their conversion rate will improve and Bobby Pointon is a fantastic young striker who I predict will be one of the best strikers in the division in the next few years.
Bromley are slowly showing progress in League One. They managed to halt Huddersfield Town's unbeaten start with a 2-1 win at Copperjax Community Stadium - their first win since the opening day of the 2026-27 season. It's been a tough few weeks for a club newly promoted to the third division for the first time in their history, losing three games in a row and conceding 14 goals in the process, but Andy Woodman's squad have shown resilience and quality to get through that period. McLean stated, “For Bromley, it is sometimes easy to lose focus on where they have come from, how quickly they have got here, and the leap that exists between League Two and the top of League One. This is very, very difficult for a newly promoted team and it takes time to adapt. To be able to emerge victorious against Huddersfield who are the best performing team in this division will really help them. It shows that they have the character and belief within the dressing room that even after a series of defeats they can come back and compete and get a positive result against a team the size of Huddersfield. Andy Woodman would have been thrilled. For a club of Bromley's size and where they come from, consolidation in League One will certainly be a goal this season and these three points will go a long way towards achieving that.
In a wide-open League Two, is this the year Gillingham can improve their form? Since dropping down to League Two four years ago, Gillingham have never finished higher than 12th, a poor result for a club of their size and reputation. But their striking 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers means they are now the best in-form team in the division with three wins and three draws in the last six games, and have moved up to fourth with signs of a revival in Gareth Ainsworth's squad. McLean concluded, "I spoke to Gareth Ainsworth in the summer and he admitted he made mistakes last season. They were perhaps a little too good at the start and that created the wrong impression of where they were as a team. Gareth has changed things around and they look very positive and are playing well. He pays a lot of attention to the psychological aspect of management and players have to give their all, and to play for Gareth Ainsworth you have to buy into those ideas. When you look at their performances and the way they achieve results, it seems they are another squad that has completely bought into the coach's ideas. You don't need to be the biggest club in the division as long as everyone is pulling in the right direction then you can be successful.
What happened next
After this win, it is hoped that Wrexham can build momentum and turn positive results into consistency in their performance. Coach Phil Parkinson and his team need to focus on improving their sharpness in front of goal to avoid a costly draw. If they can maintain this performance, the opportunity to compete at the top of the EFL will be increasingly open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the score for Wrexham vs Southampton?
Wrexham won 2-1 against Southampton.
How would Wrexham's win impact their position in the table?
This win gave Wrexham confidence and was their second win of the season, although they still showed inconsistency.
When is Wrexham's next game?
Information about Wrexham's next match is not mentioned in the article.
Who provided insight about EFL in this article?
Aaron McLean, former Peterborough United and Hull City striker, provides insight into the EFL.
What does Aaron McLean say about Wrexham's promotion chances?
Aaron McLean stated that although Wrexham may not be candidates for automatic promotion, a win against Southampton would give them huge confidence.