Stars Abroad: Mixed fortunes for Harambee Stars hopeful in England

Harambee Stars defensive hopeful Zak Vyner was in action on Wednesday night, 26 November, as his Bristol City side fell 2–0 to promotion-chasing Wrexham in an EFL Championship clash at the Racecourse Ground.

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The defeat was another thorn in the flesh for Bristol, who are desperately pushing for a place in the promotion play-offs.

They have now won just one of their last five matches, a worrying run that has seen them slide slightly out of the top six.

Vyner was deployed in an unfamiliar midfield role to shield the back three and still delivered a steady shift.

He managed 71 touches, made one interception, won two tackles, and registered a clean clearance.

In duels, the Kenyan won two of four on the ground and two of three in the air, completing the full 90 minutes.

Wrexham, having absorbed heavy pressure in their previous outing against Ipswich, were on the front foot early.

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They took a stunning lead in the 16th minute when captain James McClean and George Thomason combined down the left to feed Nathan Broadhead, whose curling 25-yard effort flew beyond Radek Vitek.

That goal lit up the game, with both sides missing glorious chances moments later.

Anis Mehmeti fired over for Bristol before George Dobson sent an effort wide at the opposite end.

Bristol thought they had equalized late in the first half when Ross McCrorie tapped in after Arthur Okonkwo parried Mehmeti’s deflected shot, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Emil Riis on the Wrexham goalkeeper.

Roberts then drilled over as the hosts held their narrow lead into the break.

Struber’s men returned with greater urgency, but Wrexham remained dangerous on the counter.

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Thomason rifled over early in the second half before setting up Josh Moore with a quickly taken free kick, although the forward dragged his shot inches wide.

McCrorie and Mehmeti threatened for the visitors as the contest opened up, while Moore and substitute Windass went close for Wrexham in the 69th minute.

The Red Dragons eventually found breathing space when Thomason’s teasing corner delivery struck the far post and went in via goalkeeper Vitek for the second goal.

Okonkwo denied Cameron Pring in stoppage time as Wrexham kept their fourth straight league clean sheet and moved to within two points of the playoff spots.

The win also extended their unbeaten run to seven matches and lifted them to 10th.

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Defeat for Bristol City was only their second away loss of the season, dropping them to seventh, one point outside the top six.

After the match, Bristol boss Gerhard Struber lamented how cheaply his side surrendered the contest.

“I was really frustrated with how cheaply we lost this game. We had a slightly different shape, and in such a system, you need everyone to invest in both directions,” Struber said.

“The performance must be better; it’s our responsibility. But at the same time, I wish the referees had a little more experience in a game like that.”