Nathan Broadhead's super double propelled Wrexham into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a toothless Reading. After a docile first-half, Phil Parkinson's men jumped to life after the break to score twice and progress in the competition where they might come up against an opponent from the Premier League.
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Wrexham’s dream cup run, having already dumped out Championship sides Hull and Preston, faced another tough test, and the opening 45 minutes against Reading showed exactly why. Parkinson rolled out a 3-4-3 setup, with Elliot Lee and Broadhead buzzing around striker Sam Smith, but it was the Royals who set the early tempo.
The visitors looked sharp and aggressive from the off, moving the ball with real purpose. A crisp move ended with Scott Mahoney pulling the trigger from outside the box, only for his strike to whistle past the upright – a warning sign for the Dragons.
The home crowd finally found their voice when wing-back Ryan Barnett surged forward, his burst of pace raising hopes that Wrexham could turn the tide. Moments later, Smith tried to recreate the magic of his promotion-clinching strike at Charlton, but his miscued shot caused chaos instead. Reading’s keeper couldn't keep hold of the ball, leaving Callum Doyle with a sniff at goal, but his effort was bravely blocked. Just as Wrexham were building belief, Reading nearly delivered the hammer blow. Kamari Doyle, lively all evening, let fly from the edge of the area two minutes before the break. The ball cannoned off the post with Callum Burton stranded, leaving the Wrexham fans breathing a huge sigh of relief.
The Racecourse erupted in the 57th minute when Broadhead finally cracked Reading’s resistance. A clever short routine from Doyle freed Lee, whose shot was charged down, only for the rebound to drop kindly at Broadhead’s feet. The record signing made no mistake, smashing the ball home to give Wrexham the breakthrough their pressure deserved.
Far from settling for a slender lead, Parkinson’s men went hunting for the knockout punch. Thirteen minutes later, the insurance goal arrived in emphatic style. Barnett swung in a peach of a delivery, and Broadhead rose like a man possessed to bury a thunderous header. The ball rattled the underside of the bar, bounced on the line, and Smith made sure by prodding it in – but the referee confirmed it was Broadhead’s strike. The two goals from the new signing sealed the fate of the match and ensured that Wrexham progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time in 48 years.
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Wrexham smashed their transfer record to bring Broadhead in from Ipswich Town for a fee rising to £10 million ($13.5m), and this was the night he showed exactly why. Two goals, unrelenting movement, and the swagger of a man who knows the spotlight belongs to him. Quite simply, he dragged the Dragons into the next round.
THE BIG LOSER
Reading’s Mark O’Mahony, who is on loan from Premier League side Brighton, endured a night to forget. He chased shadows, rarely troubled the Wrexham backline, and squandered his best moment when he clipped the post.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Wrexham now eagerly await the round four draw on Wednesday evening to learn their next challenge in this fairytale run. Whereas, in the Championship, they next host Derby County on Saturday afternoon.
