Wrexham's Callum Doyle celebratesImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

West Bromwich Albion were hosting Wrexham in a league fixture for the first time in their history

ByIan Mitchelmore
BBC Sport WalesAtThe Hawthorns

Wrexham came from two goals down to earn what could yet be a valuable point in their quest to reach the Championship play-offs with an entertaining draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

The hosts took the lead when Wrexham's George Dobson turned a free-kick from Isaac Price into his own net.

James Morrison's men doubled their advantage before half-time as Josh Maja converted from the penalty spot following Issa Kabore's foul on Jayson Molumby.

The visitors dramatically improved in the second half and pulled a goal back when Josh Windass rounded off a slick team move to net his 12th goal of the campaign.

Phil Parkinson's men levelled proceedings when Dobson got the faintest of touches on Lewis O'Brien's flicked effort.

Daryl Dike and Kieffer Moore both had efforts to win it late on, although the contest ultimately ended 2-2.

The draw stretched West Brom's unbeaten run to five matches and ensured they sit 20th - four points above the relegation zone.

Wrexham move up one place to sixth, a point clear of next opponents Southampton who have a game in hand.

The Baggies started on the front foot, although, aside from Aune Heggebo's tame shot, they failed to give Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo cause for concern.

But they were the grateful recipients of a slice of fortune midway through the first half as Price's free-kick took a deflection off Wrexham midfielder Dobson before beating Okonkwo at the goalkeeper's near post.

Kabore - who committed the foul that led to the home side's opener - then brought down West Brom captain Molumby in his own box, with referee Robert Madley having no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Maja emphatically drilled his spot-kick to Okonkwo's right to put his side in complete control going into the break with his fifth goal of the campaign across all competitions.

Having been lacklustre in the opening half, Wrexham flew out of the blocks after the restart as George Thomason and Lewis O'Brien combined to tee up Windass, who curled beyond Baggies goalkeeper Josh Griffiths from 20 yards out.

The mood at The Hawthorns dramatically shifted as a result, with the nerves among the home fans increasing as Sam Smith had a pair of headed efforts in quick succession.

And Wrexham made it 2-2 in the 62nd minute as O'Brien flicked Callum Doyle's cross goalward, with Dobson applying a gentle touch to help the ball on its way into the net.

Parkinson's intent was evident midway through the second half as Wales duo Moore and Nathan Broadhead replaced Smith and Zak Vyner.

Following a relentless spell of Wrexham pressure, Morrison's side regrouped late on and had a glorious opening to score a third in the 89th minute, but Okonkwo denied Dike from point-blank range.

Fellow substitute Moore then stung the palms of Griffiths in added time as, following a dramatic finale, a lively contest ended all square.

West Bromwich Albion's Isaac Price (right) and Jayson Molumby celebrateImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

West Bromwich Albion's Isaac Price (right) scored twice when the Baggies faced Wrexham in August

Analysis: A tale of two halves

Wrexham have been no strangers to leaving themselves with work to do in the second half of late.

They trailed 2-0 at Watford and fell behind at Sheffield United having been below par in the first half on both occasions.

But their resilience and squad depth has shone through on multiple occasions and while they could have lost against the Baggies, they very nearly won it through Moore late on.

It typifies the kind of fighting spirit they will sorely need over the remainder of their run-in, particularly when they host top-six rivals Southampton in north Wales on Tuesday night (20:00 BST).

As for West Brom, they - on the back of successive wins before the international break - oozed confidence from the outset and deservedly led.

However, they looked vulnerable throughout the majority of the second half and were hanging on until a more positive spell in the final stages.

Despite the frustration of letting a two-goal lead slip though, the point ensured the Baggies' unbeaten run goes on and means their survival hopes remain firmly in their own hands.

Post-match reaction

West Bromwich Albion interim boss James Morrison:

"A game of two halves wasn't it? I thought we were excellent in the first half, we had control.

"I talked about the importance of staying in the game and not giving too much away, 90 seconds into the second half the momentum changes.

"Wrexham have some good players and they're a good team, we had to weather the storm."

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"Fantastic response after the break.

"We were a bit passive in the first half if we're honest. However, the first goal is a deflection, it's a bit unlucky.

"The second one, if you give a penalty for that, you're giving three or four penalties every game.

"We come in at 2-0 down and we ask the lads for character first of all, an improvement in our quality of our play and take our whole game up five to 10 yards up the pitch, and we did that brilliantly in the second half."

Player of the match

Number: 20 J. Griffiths
Average rating 6.00
Number: 20 J. Griffiths
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 4 C. Styles
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 6 G. Campbell
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 3 N. Phillips
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 30 D. Imray
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 21 I. Price
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 17 O. Diakité
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 8 J. Molumby
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 18 J. Jimoh-Aloba
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 9 J. Maja
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 19 A. Heggebø
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 12 D. Dike
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 29 C. Taylor
Average Rating: 6.00

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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