Wrexham beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday to end the visitors' five-match unbeaten run and claim their first home win of the season. The result prompted BBC Final Score pundit Aaron McLean to ask whether Phil Parkinson's side can finally turn one-off statements into a sustained challenge, while he reserved even greater admiration for Queens Park Rangers, who sit fifth after a tenacious 2-2 draw with Preston North End.

Wrexham: confidence restored, but clinical edge still needed

Wrexham's win was only their second of the Championship campaign and arrived against a Southampton side that had been building momentum. McLean argued that the result matters not because it confirms Wrexham as title contenders, but because it arrives at a critical psychological moment.

"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 pointed to four draws this season as evidence of a recurring problem in the final third. Wrexham have left points behind not through defensive frailty but through an inability to close games out once they move in front or draw level. McLean drew a contrast with West Ham, who have scored 22 goals, and Middlesbrough, who have managed 16.

"Wrexham have drawn four games because they have not been able to kill games off," he said. "They have the players who can find ways to kill games off but they have not been doing it consistently enough."

Should the squad's finishing continue to frustrate, McLean expects the club's owners to act. "If they are in the shake-up, I would not bet against their owners in January saying: right, let's go and get the missing piece of the puzzle," he added.

QPR: fifth place and quietly building something real

While Wrexham drew the headlines, McLean reserved his sharpest praise for QPR. Julien Stephan's side came from 2-0 down at Loftus Road, playing 75 minutes with ten men after Dennis Cirkin's red card arrived as early as the 15th minute, to claim a point against Preston. It was the kind of result that defines promotion-chasing squads.

"I have been so impressed with QPR," McLean said. "I think they have been outstanding and they can genuinely stay around the play-off places."

He singled out midfielder Glen Kamara as the engine of the side, describing him as a player capable of operating at the highest level. For McLean, the quality of QPR's summer recruitment separates this version of the club from recent iterations that spent money without a coherent plan.

"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.

Stephan himself received specific credit. McLean referenced a 7-1 defeat to Coventry City at the start of last season as a watershed moment that, rather than derailing the project, clarified what needed to change. "Julien Stephan has done a hugely impressive job," McLean said. "That 7-1 defeat to Coventry has been the making of them."

What comes next

For Wrexham, Saturday's win buys Parkinson breathing room but the underlying numbers demand attention. Four drawn matches represent eight points that could have been nine or twelve; in a division as compressed as this one, that arithmetic matters by April.

For QPR, the concern is whether a squad that showed character against Preston can sustain fifth place once the festive programme arrives and key players face the physical demands of a congested fixture list. McLean's verdict suggests the answer is yes, but the Championship has a habit of testing belief early.

Both clubs head into the international break with reasons to feel encouraged: Wrexham because they proved they can beat a rival for the play-off places; QPR because they proved they can hold their nerve when a match turns against them.

Frequently asked

Why have Wrexham drawn so many games this season?
According to pundit Aaron McLean, Wrexham have struggled to kill games off in the final third despite having the players capable of doing so. Four draws suggest they are creating enough to win but not converting their chances at the crucial moment.
Where are QPR in the Championship table?
QPR are fifth in the Championship table, firmly in the play-off places, after drawing 2-2 with Preston North End while playing with ten men for 75 minutes.
Who is QPR's best player this season?
Pundit Aaron McLean highlighted midfielder Glen Kamara as QPR's standout performer, describing him as a player who could operate at the highest level and a key reason for the club's strong start.