Wrexham loss leaves Keates so frustrated

WREXHAM boss Dean Keates admitted he was a frustrated man as he saw his side’s five-game unbeaten run come to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Altrincham.

Despite dominating the game at The Racecourse, especially in the first half, the Reds were beaten by Richie Sutton’s set-piece winner just before the break.

It left Keates rueing Wrexham’s sloppliness in both penalty areas as his side slipped to seventh place in the National League table.

“We have cost ourselves with the set-play. Lost a man and he got a free header,” said Keates after the game.

“On the other side, we had four free headers at their goal but we didn’t convert them like Altrincham did with their one chance.

“We had opportunities, we didn’t take our chances and we got sucker-punched.

“I think if we had got a goal early-on, it would have been a different game.

“I am massively frustrated.” Keates, whose side now go to face leaders Torquay away on Saturday, added: “Set-pieces are a massive part of the game. No matter what level you play at it is massive, even more so down at our level.

“We need to learn from it. We go man-for-man, it is accountability, if you do your job your man doesn’t score.”

Theo Vassell hit the bar with Wrexham’s best chance, and Keates added: “I thought first half we were the better team.

“They had one break after we hit the crossbar. We had chances, but didn’t take them.

“We got down the side of them and had balls across the six-yard box, but not enough bodies making runs that we wanted them to do in the 18-yard box.”

The manager is looking for a reaction against the Gulls at Plainmoor.

“We have been in a good place over the last few weeks, full of energy and high tempo,” added Keates.

“We had adversity on Tuesday, we have to show resilience now

“Second half we didn’t really perform how we wanted to. We created chances but didn’t take them.

“We have got a massive game at the weekend and we go again.”

Meanwhile, Wrexham’s home game against Dover Athletic on Saturday, December 12, has been postponed.

The National League fixture at The Racecourse won’t go ahead on the scheduled date because of a member of the Whites squad has tested positive for coronavirus.

Dover have now been placed into isolation and their next four matches – including the clash with Keates’ side – have all been called off.