Wrexham to batten down the hatches after defeat

Phil Parkinson has challenged Wrexham to make an immediate response following their home defeat by West Bromwich Albion in the Championship.

Kieffer Moore's stunning 30-yard strike gave Wrexham the lead, but two goals in the final 11 minutes saw Albion hit back to win 2-1.

Wrexham are at the Racecourse again on Saturday when they face bottom of the table Preston North End.

Manager Parkinson said: "When you've lost a game at home it's time to batten down the hatches and come out strong as a group, and that's what we're going to do at the weekend.

"I'm sure we'll take criticism for the defeat, that's inevitable and we totally accept that.

"But there's a lot of resilience at that training ground and we're going to show it in the build-up to Preston."

West Brom hit back with late goals from Isaac Price and substitute Aune Heggebø to secure their first league win in four games.

The defeat denied Wrexham back-to-back home wins for the first time since February.

Parkinson said: "When you lose in that manner, it's obviously harder, isn't it? Because the lads could feel it, the game was there for us.

"No one's going to feel sorry for us in football. We've got to find a solution, look at the game and see which areas can we do better."

Parkinson praised striker Moore for his stunning goal, which put Wrexham ahead midway through the second half.

The Wales international was substituted soon after scoring, with Parkinson insisting the 34-year-old needed to be protected after playing the full game in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Derby County.

"Goals like that deserve to be part of a winning performance," Parkinson said.

"It was a brilliant goal and that's four he's got for the season, and he's got a few assists in there as well.

"He's had a really strong start to the season and he's scored all different types of goals as well.

"He played his first 90 for a while at the weekend and we went with him again, but also we've got to protect him to a certain degree."