‘Dragons need to get back on track’
RACECOURSE 3pm
WREXHAM v LEYTON ORIENT
JAMES Jennings says Wrexham must “puff our chests out” as they look to arrest a three-match losing run and get back to winning ways in the FA Trophy.
Wrexham have endured a torrid start to 2019 with three National League defeats on the bounce against Salford City, Dover Athletic and Bromley to drop to fourth place in the standings and remain four points a drift of leaders Leyton Orient.
The Os head to the Racecourse on today for their FA Trophy second-round tie, with both sides going into the contest on the back of defeats, the Londoners going down to a 3-0 loss at home last Saturday to second-placed Salford.
Wrexham missed the chance to close the gap on Orient to a solitary point on Tuesday as they went down to 2-0 defeat in their outstanding league fixture at Hayes Lane.
It was the second flat performance on the spin following their 1-0 home defeat against Dover on Saturday, and Jennings is confident the Dragons will bounce back in the Trophy.
“We’ve got a great set of lads in there, we all back one another as well,” said Jennings. “It is a test of character but it is more determination than anything.
“We all strive to be successful and every single lad in there wants to win games.
“The objective is to win, we set ourselves targets so it is more being disappointed with ourselves rather than heads going down.
“We have got to puff our chests out and pick our heads up. When things have gone bad for us this season, we have bounced back, usually it has been after one defeat, not after three.
“It is the first time it has happened, but I am positive that we can get ourselves going again and ultimately go on a good run.”
Tuesday saw Wrexham give debuts to strikers Jason Oswell, signed on an 18-month contract from Morecambe, and Cole Stockton, who joined on loan from Tranmere to the end of the season, while the manager added centrehalf Kieran Kennedy to the ranks on Thursday.
Despite their poor run Jennings is still upbeat, but acknowledges the players must attain the high standards they have set themselves.
The left-back added: “We know we’ve let a lot of people down, but it is down to us now, down to us as players to show what our character is.”
Jennings continued: “I am not being too negative, but we set high standards this season and that (loss at Bromley) was way off them, we know that as individuals and as a group.”