Wrexham close in on 3rd straight promotion after win in front of Ryan Reynolds

WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham looks to be closing in on a third straight promotion and a place in the second-tier Championship.

Playing in front of celebrity co-owner Ryan Reynolds at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham beat Burton Albion 3-0 on Saturday thanks to three goals in a 16-minute span in the second half.

Just as important for second-placed Wrexham was a 1-0 loss for third-placed Wycombe at Reading in a match that took place at the same time.

“So, so worth getting up early today,” Rob McElhenney, Wrexham’s other U.S-based co-owner, posted on X.

The results left Wrexham six points clear of Wycombe, which has a game in hand. Only two teams are automatically promoted and one of them looks sure to be Birmingham, the leader by eight points over Wrexham.

Wrexham has five games left to complete its latest promotion campaign. Just two years ago, the team was playing in the fifth-tier National League but has surged through England’s soccer pyramid thanks to the injection of cash from its famous owners.

Paul Mullin, a star player in recent promotion campaigns, was omitted from the squad again by Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer