Sam Smith Fires Wrexham Back Into Play-Off Contention as Man City Loanee Issa Kabore Inspires Red Dragons Against Basement Boys Sheffield Wednesday

Sam Smith and Issa Kabore Combine to Keep Wrexham’s Promotion Dream Alive at Hillsborough

Sam Smith might have grabbed the headlines with the decisive goal, but this hard-earned victory at Hillsborough was about far more than one finish. On a tense lunchtime in South Yorkshire, Wrexham showed patience, discipline and just enough quality to edge past a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side, securing a crucial 1-0 win that lifts the Red Dragons back into the Championship play-off places.

It was not a game that will live long in the memory for its flowing football or moments of brilliance. Instead, it was the kind of gritty, awkward fixture that defines promotion pushes — especially for a side still adjusting to life at this level. When Smith turned home Issa Kabore’s low cross just before the hour mark, it felt like a release of pressure as much as a goal.

Three points were all that mattered, and by the final whistle, Phil Parkinson’s side had done exactly what they needed to do. Wrexham now sit sixth, within touching distance of the play-offs and, remarkably, only eight points off the automatic promotion places. For a club that was playing non-league football not long ago, the momentum continues to gather.

Sheffield Wednesday v Wrexham AFC – Championship

Wrexham Back Into Play-Off Spots After Gritty Away Win

On paper, this looked like one of the more straightforward fixtures Wrexham could hope for. Sheffield Wednesday came into the match rooted to the bottom of the Championship, winless since September 20, 2025, and without a league goal since Boxing Day. Points deductions had already left them seven points adrift, and confidence around Hillsborough was understandably fragile.

But football rarely follows the script.

Wrexham, perhaps mindful of the expectation on their shoulders, started cautiously. The opening half was scrappy, disjointed and often frustrating for the travelling support. Possession was steady but penetration was limited, and Wednesday — despite their dire situation — competed aggressively and made life uncomfortable.

Issa Kabore provided one of the few moments of excitement early on, letting fly from the edge of the box with a strike that flew just over the crossbar. Ben Sheaf followed with an opportunistic volley that landed on the roof of the net, while Nathan Broadhead should really have done better when he nodded a free header wide from close range.

For all Wrexham’s territorial dominance, the quality in the final third was lacking. Wednesday, to their credit, stayed compact and made it a slog, slowing the game whenever possible and breaking up any rhythm.

Sam Smith Delivers When It Matters Most

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 58th minute, and it came from the right flank — a theme that would define the afternoon.

Kabore, increasingly influential as the game wore on, burst forward and whipped a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. Sam Smith, sharp and alert, anticipated it perfectly and poked the ball past Murphy Cooper to score his fourth goal in six games.

It was not a spectacular finish, but it was exactly the kind of goal that promotion-chasing sides need: instinctive, efficient and ruthless.

Smith’s confidence was evident from that moment on. Not long after opening the scoring, the former Reading forward forced Cooper into a smart save with a low effort before spurning another decent chance, again created by Kabore’s relentless work down the wing.

While Wrexham pushed for a second to kill the game, they never quite found the composure to do so, leaving the door slightly ajar for the hosts.

Kabore’s Influence Goes Beyond the Assist

Although Sam Smith will rightly take the plaudits for the winning goal, Issa Kabore was arguably the most influential player on the pitch.

The Manchester City loanee was a constant menace down the right wing-back position, especially in the second half. His pace stretched Wednesday’s back line, his movement dragged defenders out of shape, and his delivery caused repeated problems.

Time and again, Kabore drove at his marker, forcing panic and hesitation. Without his energy and quality, this could easily have been one of those afternoons where Wrexham dominate possession but leave empty-handed.

Importantly, Kabore also did the less glamorous side of the job. His recovery runs were sharp, his defensive positioning solid, and he tracked back diligently whenever Wednesday tried to counter. It was a complete performance, and one that underlined why he is rated so highly by Manchester City.

If Wrexham are to sustain this push towards the play-offs — or even beyond — keeping Kabore fit and firing will be crucial.

Wednesday Threaten Briefly but Lack Cutting Edge

To Sheffield Wednesday’s credit, they did not simply roll over. For long spells, they frustrated Wrexham and limited clear chances. However, their attacking shortcomings were again painfully obvious.

Bailey Cadamarteri briefly lifted the home crowd when he tested Arthur Okonkwo with a sharp effort, forcing the Wrexham goalkeeper into a solid save. From the resulting corner, the danger was not fully cleared, and Matty James had to make a vital goal-line clearance to deny Jamal Lowe.

Those moments aside, Wednesday offered very little. Their build-up play lacked conviction, their movement was predictable, and the final ball was almost always missing. It is no surprise they have now gone eight games without finding the net.

The reality is harsh. Bottom of the table, minus seven points, and staring down the barrel of relegation, Wednesday look a side short on belief as much as quality.

Game Management Shows Wrexham’s Growing Maturity

One of the most encouraging aspects for Wrexham supporters was not the goal itself, but how the team managed the remainder of the match.

In previous seasons, this might have been the type of game that slipped away — a missed chance here, a late equaliser there. This time, Wrexham stayed organised, defended intelligently, and saw the game out without panic.

Phil Parkinson’s influence was clear. The shape remained disciplined, substitutions were measured rather than reactive, and there was a calmness about the side that suggests a growing belief they belong at this level.

Yes, the performance was far from fluent. But Championship seasons are built on afternoons like this — awkward trips to struggling sides where patience is tested and character matters more than flair.

The Big Loser: Sheffield Wednesday’s Grim Reality

If Wrexham left Hillsborough buoyed by momentum, Sheffield Wednesday were left confronting another bleak chapter in a miserable campaign.

Despite some resistance, they never truly looked like a side capable of changing their fortunes. The lack of goals, confidence and cutting edge is glaring, and with each passing week, survival looks increasingly unlikely.

They may have made life difficult for Wrexham in patches, but the end result felt inevitable. For all the effort, there was little genuine belief that an equaliser was coming.

Unless something drastic changes — either on or off the pitch — Wednesday’s return to League One feels more like a matter of when than if.

Promotion Push Gathers Pace for the Red Dragons

With this victory, Wrexham move back into the Championship play-off places, a position that would have sounded fanciful not long ago. Sitting sixth and only eight points off the automatic promotion spots, the dream of back-to-back promotions — and even a route towards the Premier League — continues to feel alive.

There is still a long way to go. Tougher tests than Sheffield Wednesday await, and performances like this will need refinement. But results breed belief, and belief is growing rapidly around this Wrexham side.

If they can keep grinding out wins, even on days when they are far from their best, the Red Dragons will remain firmly in the promotion conversation.

Sheffield Wednesday v Wrexham AFC – Championship

Match Rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐