Broughton has re-joined Wrexham on another one-month loan deal from League Two leaders MK Dons following a hectic couple of days for the striker.

After ending his previous loan spell with the Reds on Saturday after playing in the goal-less draw against Grimsby Town, Broughton made a brief substitute appearance in parent club MK Dons Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalty shoot-out victory against Swansea City on Monday evening.

And Broughton, the scorer of the winning penalty which sealed the Dons' place in the final, was back in Wrexham colours last night but found himself on the losing side for the first time with the Reds who were beaten 2-0 by Peterborough United at The Racecourse.

Broughton's current deal ends on March 25 – although it could be extended – five days before the Dons' Wembley appearance against either Grimsby or Morecambe, but the 29-year-old is just focussed on helping Wrexham avoid relegation.

"My next month's loan runs out about a few days before the final, so we'll see what happens," said Broughton, who admitted he had no qualms about taking the vital final Dons' penalty.

"There are a lot of games between now and then and I am of the feeling that I will deal with that as and when it comes.

"Football has taught me if you look into the future, you lose focus on the next game. I will worry about that when it comes.

"I've got six or seven games in the next month, and I will focus on that now and helping Wrexham pull away from the bottom."

Last night's appearance marked a run of three games in four days for Broughton who confessed it has been a hectic schedule.

"It's been a crazy 24 hours," said Broughton. "I am now looking forward to a days rest. I'm feeling really tired but I felt very fresh in the game.

"There has been a lot of travelling back and too, and it is the preparation for games as much as anything that tires you.

"You have to build yourself up mentally and then the come down afterwards takes a lot out of you."

Broughton admitted that Dons' manager Paul Ince offered him the chance to stay but the much travelled frontman decided to return to Wrexham to play regular first team football.

"I always have my own pride and my own standards. Whether in was in front of 10,000 on Monday or Peterborough, I just try to do the best I can.

"It is an opportunity to come to Wrexham and play some games rather than get 15-20 minutes all the time at the Dons.

"I had no doubts about coming back to Wrexham.

"Paul Ince has been great with me. There was an opportunity to stay with the Dons and to come on as a late substitute here and there, and wait for my opportunity. But I have done that all season.

"Here is an opportunity to get my season up and going, and I have really got my teeth into it."

Broughton was disappointed that Wrexham's six game unbeaten run came to an end after two well taken Jamie Day free-kicks in the second half sealed victory for Peterborough.

"It is just so bitterly disappointing because it is the best I have seen Wrexham play since I have been here," said Broughton.

"I just think in the first half we pressured the ball, were sharper to the ball and created the better chances. And it is so disappointing to lose to two set pieces.

"Without a doubt we matched Peterborough. We were really positive half-time and said that if we could keep that tempo up that we showed, we would get something.

"Even in the second half chances were happening in their box, but two set-pieces undone us. The manager wants to look at both set-pieces because it is so disappointing to lose a game to that.

"It seems to be the end of what's been a really tough six-game period, playing all the top teams, and it is the first set-back."

Broughton had an early chance to give Wrexham the lead and score his first goal for the Reds but he was denied in the sixth minute by Posh keeper Joe Lewis.

"Jeff Whitley hit his shot which came back to me," explained Broughton.
"It was one of those where I thought 'am I offside or not', and by that time I snatched at it and pulled the shot.

"I am very disappointed with that because it was a great chance to put us 1-0 up so that is going to lie with me."

In the absence of Richard Hope, an unused substitute, and the injured Neil Roberts, Broughton once again donned the captain's armband.

"It is a big honour and I have taken it as a real compliment," added Broughton.

"Maybe the manager has seen that I have got some leadership qualities, but I just try and get on with my game."

- Jeff Whitley – who was the sponsor's Wrexham man of the match last night – donated his winning bottle of champagne to the Welsh Air Ambulance Service.


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