Wrexham

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Graham Alexander says Phil Parkinson has done an "unbelievable job" at Wrexham ahead of Preston North End's trip to the Racecourse Ground on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Red Dragons are bidding to respond to Tuesday night's disappointing 2-1 loss at home to West Bromwich Albion when they host the Lilywhites this weekend.

Ahead of the contest in north Wales, Alexander - who was named as Paul Heckingbottom's successor at Deepdale in late September - described Parkinson as a "fierce competitor".

"He's a competitive manager, a successful manager. He's done an unbelievable job at Wrexham," said Alexander.

"Winning is hard, I've said that many times. It's what he's done all over his career.

"I know him reasonably well; he's a fierce competitor. We've had some good battles over time; we've not been the best of mates on the touchline.

"I've met him a few times off the pitch, and we've got the utmost respect for each other.

"I know how he thinks, he knows how I think, we both want to win."

North End head to the Racecourse Ground as the Championship's bottom club, having won just once this season.

Alexander - who made more than 400 appearances across two spells as a player for the Lancashire club - has overseen defeats by Millwall and Birmingham City since taking charge last month.

The former Scotland international has urged Preston supporters to keep faith with his side - who have collected just four of the 30 points on offer so far this season.

"I'm not into these big statements that promise this and that. I'll never be that guy. I just want to get outcomes," he added.

"There's a lot of work ahead of us. Just be faithful with us, believe in us, and that will be enough.

"That's all I require from the fans. I know their support for this club and their love for the club is there year in, year out."

Aled Williams
BBC Sport Wales

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The reaction from Wrexham supporters following their Championship defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion summed up their frustration.

A brief chorus of boos rang out at the Racecourse at the conclusion of a game in which the hosts blew a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 against the Baggies.

Manager Phil Parkinson accepted that criticism of himself and his team's performance would follow a second home loss this campaign.

Although Wrexham are only three points short of the top eight, their campaign is yet to take off.

"I think it was frustration at a disappointing home performance," former Wrexham midfielder Barry Horne told BBC Radio Wales Sport of the boos at full-time.

"When they were chasing the game, Wrexham ran out of ideas, and I think that was the frustration from the crowd."

It is a view shared by another ex-Wrexham midfielder, Waynne Phillips.

"That's what happens when a team doesn't play well," Phillips told BBC Radio Cymru.

"But they have to turn off the noise, and Phil Parkinson has proved that on many occasions that he can do that very well.

"They will look back on this game to see what they could have done better, and there are a lot of things they could have done better."

That next game is again at home on Saturday against Preston North End, a side sat bottom of the table with only one win so far this season.

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Wrexham sit 16th in the table before Wednesday's Championship action, with a point more than they mustered at this stage last season.

"Wrexham aren't a million miles away from where I expected them to be at this stage of the season," Horne added.

"I expected them to be mid-table within striking distance of the play-offs and that's more or less where they are.

"The worry is that you can't say they are playing well, and the problem that Wrexham have got is that this is a very, very difficult league."

Horne, who represented Wales 59 times, feels Parkinson is still searching for his best lineup.

The Wrexham boss made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Derby County on Saturday, with forward Josh Windass ruled out with an ankle injury.

Injuries have forced Parkinson to do without defenders Max Cleworth and Ben Sheaf, midfielder Matty James and forward Nathan Broadhead.

"I'm pretty certain in saying Phil Parkinson, unusually for his time at Wrexham, doesn't know what his best team is," former Wales captain Horne added.

"When Wrexham have climbed through the divisions and have done well, he was pretty much certain who seven or eight starting players were going to be.

"This season there's only a couple of players who have played nearly all of the games.

"The rest it's just been a mishmash, constant turnover, especially in the midfield positions where Phil Parkinson can't seem to find the best combination.

"Players can't find any consistency as they're not getting a run in the team, which doesn't help. And there's just a lack of creativity there.

"[Ollie] Rathbone and [Callum] O'Hare were busy early on - they tried, and they were energetic, but they just weren't producing anything.

"Defensively, Wrexham are okay, but for the two goals, they switched off. Could they have done better? The answer would be yes."

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson says the club need to stick together after the Red Dragons blew a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 against West Brom.

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Captain Dom Hyam said Wrexham were "hurting" after their "frustrating" defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion in the Championship.

Kieffer Moore's stunning strike put the Red Dragons ahead midway through the second half before the Baggies hit back with two late goals to win 2-1.

"We worked so hard for 70 minutes of the game to give two goals away at the end, it was really frustrating," Hyam said.

"There's enough experience on the pitch to see a 1-0 win out, especially at home.

"If we're not going to get the second goal then we need to be resolute and work even harder than we did to preserve the lead.

"We're hurting and it's frustrating, but the good thing with football is that there's another game on Saturday.

"It's tough to take right now but we're professionals and we go again. When the chips are down we need a good performance."

Wrexham host bottom of the table Preston North End on Saturday.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is relishing facing West Bromwich Albion under the Racecourse lights on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

The Red Dragons are 15th in the table before the game against ninth-placed West Brom.

"We've always enjoyed the games under the lights at the Racecourse," Parkinson said.

"There's a special feel to them – the pitch is that little bit slicker with an evening game and it's an interesting game."

Parkinson's side will be looking to secure back-to-back home wins for the first time since February.

Wrexham beat Southampton 2-1 in their previous home game last month before the extended international break.

"It seems like a long time ago since we played Southampton," said Parkinson, whose side drew 1-1 at Derby on Saturday.

"It's good to be back on home territory. The atmosphere at the Southampton game was brilliant in terms of the galvanising effect.

"We'd come into the game on the back of a high-profile defeat [at West Ham], which you can't hide away from, but every supporter played their part.

"We use the saying about the supporters being the 12th man – that was certainly relevant that day."

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A late Ollie Rathbone goal salvaged a point for Wrexham away at Derby County on the return of the Championship.

That draw was a fifth in nine league games for Phil Parkinson's side, who find themselves 15th at this early stage of the season.

We asked whether you were concerned with Wrexham's sluggish start, or if you were still optimistic.

Here is what you had to say ahead of the Tuesday fixture against West Bromwich Albion.

Martin: We are in roughly the same position as last season. No need to panic, there's no rush ho get to the Premier League. Better we get there late and healthy than early and weak.

Al: Our performance as a team is below par but two things I can't see helping us right now are panic or radical change. I think everyone is working hard to improve results, time will tell - that's sport.

Chris: With the exception of Millwall away, we haven't been able to dominate games for sustained periods. It's getting there but we need to be able to take the lead and lock out the opposition with the confident play and more goals. We're serial winners and need to maintain this as an attitude to move to the next level. Our work rate and commitment is phenomenal can't fault that at all.

Peter: Given the amount of injuries we have suffered this season, I think that being in the middle of the table is a fair assessment. I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful that once the injuries subside that Wrexham can move forward and make a mid-season push.

Andy: Very predictable at the moment and devoid of ideas. Functional performances that may keep us in the Championship, but won't get us in the promotion spots or play-offs.

Mike: Injuries are testing us at present but the squad as a whole lacks pace and is too old. Will be happy to survive this season, get the new Kop open and reset.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was pleased with the "fighting spirit" his side showed to come back to draw 1-1 at Derby County.

It left last season's play-off contenders 20 points behind Championship leaders Swansea City and four above the relegation zone.

Parkinson's side host West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday before Preston North End's visit to north Wales next Saturday.

What do you make of how things have evolved so far this campaign, and what lies ahead?

Let us know what you think by clicking here.

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Ollie Rathbone described his late equaliser at Derby County as a "special moment" as Wrexham claimed a hard-earned point against the Rams on the forward's 30th birthday.

Rathbone converted from close range in the 88th minute to cancel out Sam Szmodics' stunning first half opener at Pride Park.

In the aftermath of the draw, 2024-25 player of the season Rathbone revealed his parents were among those in the away end celebrating his first goal of the campaign.

"I think it's just a matter of keep getting into those areas and hoping that the ball lands to you, so I'm delighted," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"They're a fantastic fan base and they travel in numbers. It was a really special moment for me, my mum and dad were in the crowd."

It brought a positive end to what had been an otherwise frustrating afternoon in Derbyshire for both Wrexham and Rathbone.

The 30-year-old thought he had netted an equaliser just before half time as he guided the ball into the net from Ben Whiteman's cross.

However, the effort was controversially disallowed for offside, with Rathbone saying after the match: "[The officials] just said they got it completely wrong.

"That happens, we're all human at the end of the day. It's a difficult job, so we'll just get on with it."

Wrexham sit 14th in the table following a fifth draw in nine Championship matches so far this season.

Despite failing to leave Pride Park with all three points, Rathbone feels the draw typifies the battling qualities Wrexham have in their squad at present.

"I think overall we did have some good chances, we had the goal at the end of the first half disallowed, which was a poor decision from the officials," he added.

"We kept knocking on the door and had some half decent moments in the final third but probably lacked that little bit of quality and composure.

"But it's just another example of the great spirit in the group to keep going and get a result."

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Phil Parkinson admitted Wrexham's preparations to face Derby County have been made more difficult by the extended international break.

Parkinson does not expect his opposite number John Eustace to give much away about player availability before Saturday, and insisted his side must focus on themselves.

Wrexham are aiming to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when they face a Derby side without a win in four games.

To do so, Parkinson wants his charges to replicate the away performances at Millwall and Swansea that yielded four points.

"It can be difficult to predict, in terms of how they are going to set up, if I'm honest, after three weeks off," he explained.

"We know the key players that they have got, but they had quite a few players who weren't available for the last game.

"[It's about] getting the core principles of what we need to do to get a win at Derby, and making sure that it's about us on the day.

"We need to play the same way we have done in the away games against Swansea and Millwall and then the [home] game against Southampton.

"Of course we will look into the teams Derby have picked, the style they play and where their threats and weaknesses are, but with an understanding that it might be a different team and system come Saturday."

Parkinson is not yet sure how the lengthy break will have impacted his players' fitness, but feels they are in good shape ahead of the trip to Pride Park.

"I feel like we are in a good place physically, and we go into the Derby game confident after the Southampton win," he said.

"The Championship is as tight as everybody expected. Some teams have probably overachieved; others are not where they want to be.

"From our point of view, it's about continuing the consistent form right through to the next break.

"We will concentrate on the Derby game and then look forward to the two home games.

"We had a great win there last year. We are looking to replicate that performance."

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Phil Parkinson hailed the work former director Humphrey Ker did in the local community following his decision to step down from the Wrexham board.

Ker, a comedy actor and writer by trade, introduced Wrexham owner Rob Mac to British football before the sitcom star linked up with Ryan Reynolds to buy the Red Dragons.

Parkinson, who worked alongside Ker for five seasons at Wrexham, says the 43-year-old's absence will be felt, and thanked him for his lesser-seen work.

"Humphrey is going to be missed because he is a great guy. He's been a very positive influence on everybody," said Parkinson.

"Not just with myself and the staff but with everybody in the club, and he has also impacted the local community.

"I think that is what Humphrey has specialised in: connecting the club with the local community.

"He has done a lot of good things, some of which probably don't get the publicity that a win on a Saturday does.

"But he has had plenty of wins with what he has done in the community, and I would like to thank him for all the support he has given the staff and the players over the past five years we have been working together."