Sometimes, there can be a premium to pay when supporting one of the division’s more fancied teams.

The opposition raising their game is perhaps the most common example, and Accrington Stanley, without a win in four matches before Wrexham’s visit, did just that when condemning Phil Parkinson’s side to a deserved third defeat of the season.

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Accrington also charged the 2,587 fans who made the 75-mile trip from north Wales a bit more for the privilege. All ticket prices for adults were £5 ($6.23) more expensive than for every other league fixture at the Wham Stadium this season, including the visit of League Two leaders Stockport County. To add to the insult, those away fans had to stand on the open terrace behind the goal in a torrential rainstorm.

Increased policing and stewarding costs to deal with comfortably the biggest away following of 2023-24 were cited by Accrington’s chairman Andy Holt when responding to those questioning the move on social media before kick-off.

The same thing happened last season when Leeds United were the visitors in the FA Cup fourth round, with two sides of the stadium handed over to the then-Premier League club and adult ticket prices set at £25.

Wrexham’s official account on Twitter pledged to reduce ticket prices by £5 for the return fixture in March, with Holt branding the timing of the post as “stupid”. He was still going strong after the game, taking to social media again to say, “Accrington 2 Hollywood 0”. After tagging Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, Holt then signed off his message, “Get that on Netflix, Ryan lad.”

Accrington 2 Hollywood nil.

I think @VancityReynolds should cut prices by a tenner @Wrexham_AFC

Safe journey home folks

Get that on @netflix Ryan lad.

— Andyh (@AndyhHolt) November 18, 2023

Entertaining, knockabout stuff for all but perhaps the Disney+ PR department, who clearly have work to do in the Accrington area when it comes to informing the public where they can watch the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.

But Holt’s post-match joshing — coupled with the joyous scenes at the final whistle as his players celebrated on the pitch in front of their most vocal supporters — underlined just what last season’s National League champions are up against in their quest to make it back-to-back promotions.

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They are the scalp everyone wants to claim, the team with the biggest target on their back.

So far, Wrexham have dealt with this remarkably well. There have been a couple of chastening defeats against MK Dons and leaders Stockport but, typically, they’ve risen to the challenge of being the hunted.

Then came Accrington. Parkinson was distinctly unhappy with the 49th-minute penalty award that led to the deadlock being broken by Tommy Leigh. “A terrible decision,” he said after the 2-0 loss.

But neither that nor Paul Mullin’s missed penalty in the 99th minute was why Wrexham’s 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end.

Instead, the visitors were found wanting in two key areas. First, Wrexham failed to physically match a lively and energetic home side, unlike on the recent trips to Mansfield Town and Notts County when the platform for victory was laid by at least matching their opponents’ physical exertions.

Second, there was a distinct lack of composure in possession, with too many players taking the easy option of aimlessly lumping the ball forward rather than trying to get the ball into wide areas for the wing-backs to exploit. Brad Hills and Jay Rich-Baghuelou, Accrington’s central defenders, were given the chance to show off their aerial strength time and time again.

When Wrexham did get the ball down and play, such as when Elliot Lee’s deft pass played in Mullin for a first-half shot that crashed against the crossbar, they carried a threat. But these moments were few and far between.

How Wrexham respond to this most recent setback when hosting Morecambe next weekend will be crucial.

The portents are, at least, encouraging with those two losses to MK Dons and Stockport during the campaign being followed by seven- and eight-game unbeaten runs in the league.

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Last season’s ability to bounce back from defeat was even more impressive. Having lost to Chesterfield during the second week of the campaign, Wrexham took 22 points from their next eight matches. Then the 1-0 defeat at Notts County in early October sparked a 28-game unbeaten run.

Top scorer Lee, with 10 goals from midfield this season, is adamant there will once again be a similar response.

“There were too many of us under par today,” he said. “That happens sometimes. We take responsibility for that ourselves. My set pieces were crap, for a start. Mulls (Mullin) also misses a penalty.

“It can’t always be your day. But we will learn from this. Training will be buzzing this week, it always is after a defeat. Every time we have lost a game there has always been a response.

“After the 5-0 drubbing at Stockport, we went 11 unbeaten. Don’t doubt the character in that dressing room. When we lose, we want to put it right straight away. Roll on Morecambe.”

(Top photo: Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)