Phil Parkinson believes he understands why Wrexham fell short against Hull City, and the Reds manager now knows what must change when Swansea City arrive at the Racecourse Ground.
Wrexham slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Hull earlier this week but remain sixth in the Championship with the play-off race entering its final stretch.
Reflecting on the performance, Parkinson admitted the mood inside the dressing room may have contributed to the result.
“I just felt there’s an element of maybe Kieffer getting injured, Dobson suspended, a little bit maybe feeling sorry for ourselves,” he said.
“We’ve always had a real resilience about us here. We’ve had lots of moments where people have said, ‘How are they going to come back from that setback?’”
Parkinson suggested the loss of key players, including Kieffer Moore and Libby Cacace, created a sense of flatness before kick-off.
“With the news about Kieffer and Libby and things like that, I just felt within the dressing room there was that little bit of flatness.”
Changes Wrexham could make against Swansea
With Swansea up tonight, Parkinson is expected to tweak his side in search of a response.
Wrexham have not lost back-to-back home league games this season, making the Welsh derby an immediate opportunity to reset after the Hull defeat.
In midfield, George Dobson remains suspended, while Moore’s injury leaves the Reds short of options up front.
Zak Vyner and Lewis O’Brien started as the deeper midfield pair against Hull but Vyner was withdrawn at half-time, with Ollie Rathbone replacing him.
Rathbone could now come into the starting XI against Swansea, offering more energy in midfield as Parkinson looks to lift the intensity that was missing earlier in the week.
There may also be a change at wing-back, where Issa Kabore is pushing to start after making an impact from the bench in midweek.
The back three of Max Cleworth, Dom Hyam and Callum Doyle is expected to remain intact, with Arthur Okonkwo continuing in goal.
Parkinson believes the key now is ensuring his side respond with the resilience they have shown throughout the season.
“We’ve got to be bigger than that,” he said ahead of the Swansea clash.
“We’ve got to come out fighting.”
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