Phil Parkinson’s verdict on Wrexham’s draw with Burnley

Phil Parkinson was keen to remind his Wrexham players not to get too “despondent” at their draw against Burnley.

The Red Dragons came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Nicky Hayen’s side at the Racecourse Ground last night.

Burnley were the better side in the first half, deservedly taking the lead courtesy of Zeki Amdouni’s strike.

But the home side struck back through Jacques Ekomié’s header, with neither side able to go on and find the winner.

Despite Burnley’s poor start to the season, which leaves them winless, Parkinson felt it was still a good result.

“Let's not get too despondent, Burnley were in the Premier League last year,” he said. “They've had a bad start to the season but they've got some very good players.

“As much as we went out to win it, I think the second-half performance was a lot better, so I don't want us to be too down about drawing against Burnley.

“For the first half, I thought our closing down was passive. I think it was a bit tactical.

“We played against a lot of different shapes and different ways of setting up and we didn't adapt quick enough in the first half. We were too easy to play through.

“The key players got on the ball behind our midfield at times and if you think about that we've got Swansea and Millwall and we've hardly given those two teams an opportunity on goal.

“We took too long to adjust and there was a little bit of passiveness as well, not quite aggressive enough in the press. So, a combination of both. I thought we just got caught in between players in the first period.

“In the second period, we adjusted it and we took our pressing up 10 yards but we were more organised in what we needed to do and we were loads better. We got back in the game with a great goal from young Jacques. I'm so pleased for him.

“Then, chasing the game to go and win it. I thought we were a bit untidy at times. They were tiring. You could see the players come off injured and we just had to stay patient and keep picking them off with the ball. When we did that, we got some brilliant positions but we just became a bit untidy.

“That can also be a bit of fatigue from our point of view. So, we're disappointed not to have won it, especially with the two really positive performances away from home. But we'll take the point.”