Wrexham answer criticism with 4-1 win over Preston

Wrexham had to shut out the outside noise to bounce back: Phil Parkinson’s side beat Preston North End 4-1 in the Championship at the Racecourse. The result followed a 2-1 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion in midweek. Parkinson also pointed to a lengthy injury list, including Max Cleworth, Nathan Broadhead and Dan Sheaf, as a factor in Wrexham’s inconsistent start.

The visitors initially had the better of the contest. Parkinson made four changes, bringing Sam Smith into the side to add more attacking threat, but it took Wrexham time to put Preston under pressure. Before the break, Joe Worrall headed an Odel Offiah lobbed effort off the line, and Andrew Hughes then sent a header narrowly wide. Worrall went on to open the scoring before Alfie Devine brought Preston level. Ben Whiteman restored Wrexham’s lead: first goals for the club from both him and Worrall gave the hosts a 2-1 half-time advantage.

Worrall had gone more than two years without scoring. Whiteman, a former Preston player, also got his first goal in Wrexham colours. Sam Smith and then Kieffer Moore scored after the break: Smith headed in Whiteman’s corner before Moore finished Callum Doyle’s low free-kick. Wrexham thus secured a convincing win over Preston, bottom of the Championship. It was Wrexham’s third league victory of the season and lifted the side to 14th. The week had also brought links between Steven Gerrard and the Wrexham manager’s job.

Parkinson acknowledged the pressure of criticism: “When you lose at any level, criticism comes the manager’s way and the players’ way and you’ve got to accept that.” He added that the attention surrounding the club intensifies those reactions. “We couldn’t wait to get back out here today,” he said, explaining that he and Steve Parkin had been eager to rejoin the group on Thursday. He said the team selection and style of play had been considered carefully.

“Sometimes you’ve got to block everything out and put in a performance like we did today,” Parkinson said. He also expressed confidence that his squad could be competitive this season. On the injuries, he described it as “the worst spell we’ve had in my time here”, while saying the team had lost a lot of quality and football ability on the pitch. He also noted that he had managed more than 1,000 games and was used to criticism.