Phil Parkinson has expressed his anticipation for a reaction from Wrexham following a disappointing performance that led to Hull City ending their nine-match unbeaten streak in the Championship.
The Red Dragons experienced their first league defeat since their visit to Stoke on October 18, as Kyle Joseph and returning substitute Oli McBurnie secured a 2-0 victory for the Tigers at MKM Stadium.
Kieffer Moore squandered a perfect opportunity for Wrexham in the first half and had a penalty saved by Ivor Pandur in the second half, but few could argue that Hull deserved their win on Wednesday.
Even Parkinson acknowledged the strength of the hosts, having observed his team falter from the stands and deliver a notably poor first-half performance.
“We just weren’t at the level we needed to be tonight, and I have to take responsibility for that,” said the Wrexham manager. “All the staff will, and the players themselves will, too.
“We’ll address it as a group. The players have done well for us in the past, but tonight we fell below our usual standards, and we aim to rebound for the weekend.”
Parkinson mentioned that he shared his thoughts on the performance with the players in the dressing room post-match, allowing them a day off on Thursday to recuperate after the long return trip to north Wales.
“We had an honest discussion with the team,” he stated. “Tonight’s performance wasn’t up to our usual standards, and we must be frank about that.
“It’s quite rare during my time at Wrexham to witness a half so uncharacteristic of us.
“The first half tonight was definitely one of those instances, but we faced a competent opponent. They deserved credit for their excellence.
“We will, of course, strive to respond. That’s what football is all about.
“Tomorrow might feel a bit gloomy, as none of us enjoy losing in this sport, but we’ll work as a team and aim to deliver a strong showing this weekend.”
Sitting 14th in England’s second division, Wrexham will look to recover against Watford at home on Saturday.
Information from PA contributed to this report.