RYAN BARNETT says the standing ovation he received from supporters when he went off in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Northampton Town at The Racecourse was “one of the best feelings of my career”.
The wing-back played a starring role in the League One victory as he had three assists and had a hand in the other goal.
Barnett was replaced by Sebastian Revan four minutes from time and he walked off the pitch to rapturous applause from Reds’ fans.
“It was nice to be honest, I was absolutely shattered,” he said.
“When the gaffer brought me off, you want to be there for the 90 minutes but sometimes when the games come Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, it’s a tough ask.
“The reaction when I came off was brilliant, it’s one of the best feelings of my career.”
Barnett got the plaudits for the quality of his crossing but the modest 25-year-old insists his team-mates also deserve credit for getting into areas to finish the chances off.
“I know when I am one v one, I would back myself against most defenders and put in a good cross, and for lads to be in there to finish it off,” said Barnett.
“Sometimes the crosses don’t come off and sometimes all of them do at once.
“They did against Northampton and it is credit to the other boys getting in there.
“I feel like if I put good quality balls in, we have got players to get on the end of them.”
Two of the crosses were finished off my fellow wing-back James McClean who opened his account for the season.
Barnett, who finally got off the mark for Wrexham in April’s 4-1 win against Crawley and netted what was the Goal of the Season award winner in the next game as the Reds saw off Forest Green Rovers 6-0 to clinch promotion from League Two, hasn’t been on target this season but he is happy to keep weighing in with assists.
“James at the back post, the gaffer is always on to me and him to get in at the back post and that has really helped the team,” he said.
“All I have got to do is keep getting in there and I know one will drop for me eventually. I have just got to be patient.
“It would be nice to score but with assists, you are helping the team and that is what I want to do.
“The gaffer gives me so much confidence going forward and that’s all you need.”
Wrexham are second in the table with 20 points from the opening 10 games and Barnett is happy with how it’s gone so far in the third tier.
“I think from the start if you said where we are now, you’d 100 per cent have taken it,” he added.
“There’s been a couple of dodgy performances in there, but we’ve reacted to it straight away against Northampton.
“We’ll take the start but it’s only the start, we’ve got to keep it going.”