Sheffield Utd 1⁠-⁠0 Wrexham: Brereton goal settles it

Wrexham lost 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Friday night, and Ben Brereton's 30th-minute goal was the only difference between the sides. It was Brereton's first goal of the season, and it was enough to give Sheffield United a third win in five and lift them within a point of the top eight. The defeat leaves Wrexham 17th of 24, with 14 points from 13 matches.

Wrexham were slow to get the ball moving in the first half, and Callum Doyle was booked in the 27th minute. Sheffield had 55% of the possession and 13 shots to Wrexham's nine, and they won seven corners to none. Only two of Wrexham's shots were on target across the whole game.

The second half was better. Phil Parkinson made a change at half-time, bringing on Sam Smith for Oliver Rathbone and Max Cleworth for Dominic Hyam, then made three more around the 73-minute mark: George Thomason for Jacques Ekomié, Danny Imray for Issa Kaboré and George Dobson for Ben Sheaf. Sheffield's Liam Kitching and Kalvin Phillips both picked up yellow cards in the second half.

Anthony Patterson was the pick of the Wrexham players, and Sam Smith was next best after his half-time introduction. Doyle had the lowest mark of those who played, while Lewis O'Brien and Kieffer Moore worked through the full 90 minutes without much to show for it.

Parkinson said after the game that effort and desire were "not where they need to be", and that the team had to show a consistent level of both every week. Wrexham have now lost four of their last seven league matches, and the question for the next game is whether the better second half carries into the first 45 minutes.