BBC Final Score pundit Aaron McLean has offered a detailed assessment of two of the Championship's more intriguing stories this weekend, with Wrexham's credibility and Queens Park Rangers' quiet rise both coming under the spotlight following Saturday's action.

Wrexham: a big win, but questions remain

Wrexham ended Southampton's five-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 home victory at the Racecourse Ground, recorded as only their second win of the season. It was a significant result, and one that McLean believes will carry genuine psychological weight, though he stopped short of declaring Phil Parkinson's side promotion certainties.

"Do I think Wrexham are a candidate for automatic promotion? Probably not, but that win against Southampton will give them huge confidence," McLean said. "That was only their second win of the season and they have probably come under pressure for the first time."

The pundit acknowledged that last season's achievement may have shifted expectations to a level the squad is currently struggling to meet. "Personally I think they overachieved and the level of expectation has risen as a result but the team has not quite lived up to it," he added. "To beat Southampton, as one of the in-form teams in the division, will do them and Phil Parkinson no end of good."

One recurring theme McLean pointed to was Wrexham's inability to close out matches. Four draws have cost the club dearly, and he suggested the issue lies at the top end of the pitch. "You look at West Ham, 22 goals; Middlesbrough, 16 goals. Wrexham have drawn four games because they have not been able to kill games off," he said.

That said, McLean hinted that the January window could prove significant if the club is still in the promotion shake-up at the turn of the year. "I would not bet against their owners in January saying, 'right, let's go and get the missing piece of the puzzle'," he added, a remark that will resonate with supporters who have seen the club's Hollywood backers act decisively in previous windows.

QPR: flying under the radar in fifth

Queens Park Rangers sit fifth in the Championship table after fighting back from 2-0 down, and from 75 minutes with ten men following Dennis Cirkin's early red card, to claim a 2-2 draw against Preston at Loftus Road. McLean was effusive in his praise for Julien Stephan's side.

"I have been so impressed with QPR. I think they have been outstanding and they can genuinely stay around the play-off places," he said. "Their recruitment has been first class."

McLean singled out midfielder Glen Kamara as particularly influential. "Glen Kamara in the middle of the park is an outstanding player who I think could play in the Premier League," he said, the remark underlining how significantly the perception of this QPR squad has shifted.

The pundit also pointed to Stephan's management as a key factor in the club's resurgence. "The 7-1 defeat to Coventry at the start of last season has been the making of them," McLean argued, suggesting that the chastening experience forced the club to address its recruitment strategy and rebuild with purpose.

"For a few years they have probably spent money in the wrong places but they have addressed that and can look forward to having a really competitive season," he said. "I am really looking forward to seeing them over the rest of the season."

The bigger picture

Taken together, the assessments of Wrexham and QPR paint a picture of two clubs at very different moments in their Championship campaigns. Wrexham, with their high profile and ambitious ownership, are under pressure to justify the pre-season billing, while QPR are quietly accumulating points and building belief without much of the fanfare.

Whether Wrexham can add consistency to this latest statement result, and whether QPR can sustain their place among the top six as the division's heavier hitters find form, are among the most compelling questions the second tier poses heading into the autumn months.

Frequently asked

Why have Wrexham drawn so many games this season?
According to BBC pundit Aaron McLean, Wrexham have dropped points in four draws because they have lacked the clinical edge to kill games off once in front, despite having players capable of doing so.
Where are QPR in the Championship table?
QPR are fifth in the Championship following a 2-2 draw with Preston at Loftus Road, and are firmly in the play-off mix according to pundit Aaron McLean.
Could Wrexham make signings in the January transfer window?
Aaron McLean suggested that if Wrexham remain in contention, their ownership would be likely to act in January to bring in the missing piece needed to push for promotion.