Wrexham suffer third successive loss in all competitions

PHIL PARKINSON described his side’s defending as “ridiculous” as Wrexham suffered a 3-1 defeat against Salford City at The Peninsula Stadium.

The damage was done in the opening 16 minutes with the Ammies scoring twice from corners, with Elliot Webb finding the net direct from a flag-kick to make it 2-0.

Sam Dalby reduced the deficit with his first league goal of the season just before the break but Salford struck again early in the second half and there was no way back after that for Wrexham who have lost their last three games in all competitions.

“We gave two goals away from corners which are ridiculous,” said Parkinson.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb against a team who are on a good run.

“They are a physical, set-play team who get the ball into Matt Smith and make it a real scrap and if you give two goals away like that, it is very difficult.

“We got one back but the third goal, we weren’t strong enough in our box again so it was very disappointing.”

Parkinson admits Wrexham, down to fourth in the table but still only six points behind leaders Stockport County with a game in hand, were second best in all departments against Salford who sit 19th.

“We have to find a way on our travels when the pitch isn’t great, or the other team plays a certain way, to come through these games with points because we have come out second best against Salford in important areas in the game,” he said.

“But if we had defended those two set-plays properly, we would start getting a foothold in the game but we gave Salford a huge lift.

“We knew what type of game it was going to be and we worked on that but you can’t legislate for two corners going in like they did.

“We got back in the game with a good goal from Sam but the third goal was a real blow for us because the conditions were in our favour second half and you fancied us with that goal to get back in the game.”

Wrexham created very little after conceding a third goal and never looked like getting something out of the game.

“We needed to show a touch of quality or calmness in a hurly-burly, physical encounter to get a pass away to give us the rhythm to get up the pitch as a team with the ball,” added Parkinson.

“Those moments weren’t enough by any stretch of the imagination.

“I said to the lads at half-time that there’s not going to be loads of them because of the style of game but when they come, we have got to show that little bit of quality.

“I can count four or five moments probably in the game and that is not enough to go and win a game of football.”