RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Phil Parkinson has taken Wrexham from the National League to the Championship since his 2021 arrival [Getty Images]
Phil Parkinson is probably under pressure as Wrexham manager for the first time, according to former Wales striker Iwan Roberts.
Friday night's 2-1 home defeat by Birmingham left Wrexham winless and without a clean sheet in four matches across all competitions in 2026-27.
Roberts told BBC Radio Wales: "I think he [Parkinson] is probably under pressure for the first time since he's been at Wrexham.
"He's had some incredible success at the football club. I think he's quite stubborn in his way, in his tactics, he doesn't like to change, and I don't mind that because they have been so successful.
"But I've said it too many times, when you're chasing a game, you're behind with 15, 20 minutes to go, he still persists with the back three, instead of maybe trying something different, going to a back four and getting another body further forward."
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Parkinson himself bemoaned his side's defensive failings that contributed to Phil Neumann's brace for the Blues as "two of the softest goals" conceded in his reign.
Roberts believes such failings are not new, saying: "The Achilles heel last season, and the reason they didn't get into the play-offs, is they had the sixth worst defensive record in that league and this is the scary statistic - at home, only bottom club Sheffield Wednesday conceded more goals than Wrexham."
Roberts also believes Parkinson's squad is already too large with the manager still in the hunt for new players.
"Wrexham were the highest spenders last summer and I think there's only four clubs that have spent more this summer, and he's still on about bringing more players in," said Roberts.
"A squad of 33 players, I think that's too much. I think that in itself can cause you problems."
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