WREXHAM got back on track in the Championship with a 4-1 victory over bottom of the table Preston North End at The Racecourse.
Phil Parkinson wanted a reaction following the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to West Brom in midweek and he got it as his side secured a comfortable win.
Here's five talking points from the game.
1. Parkinson always finds a way to bounce back.
When there's adversity, you can always depend on the Wrexham boss to bounce back and that's what his side did against Preston.
Defeat against West Brom left the Reds at the wrong end of the table and pressure mounting on Parkinson but he got the perfect response with a big win.
No-one will be getting carried away as it is just one result but it is definitely a step in the right direction and something to build on away to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
2. Preston were poor but take nothing away from Wrexham.
You can see why Preston are struggling at the bottom of the table and have already changed their manager this season.
But you can only beat what is in front of you and Wrexham did a good job to run out worthy winners on a day they really needed a reaction to the midweek loss.
Anything other that three points would have been disappointing and although there will be tougher tests, confidence will be boosted ahead of two successive away matches.
3. Ben Whiteman has his best game for Wrexham.
Whiteman has had his critics since joining the Reds from Preston in the summer but he put on a show against his former club.
He supplied some telling passes and had the assist for Joe Worrall's opening goal before opening his Wrexham account to put his side 2-1 up, and then he set-up the third goal.
With Matty James back in midfield following a back injury, he combined well with Whiteman and the Lilywhites did not have an answer.
4. Two up front worked a treat.
Parkinson made changes after the defeat and he also switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation, going with two strikers for the first time this season.
It paid off as Wrexham's two-man attack consisting of Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith caused problems all afternoon.
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Both players also got on the scoresheet which was pleasing to see as leading marksman Moore stuck for the fifth time this season and Smith got his first goal of 2026-27, so hopefully Parkinson sticks with the system and it continues to bear fruit.
5. One player back but six still on the sidelines.
Although James returned to the side after missing two games with a back problem, Parkinson is still without George Thomason, Max Cleworth, Nathan Broadhead, Libby Cacace, Ben Sheaf and Josh Windass.
Wrexham coped well without them against Preston but there are some key players on the treatment table and the Reds could do with back as soon as possible to help them continue climbing the table.
Only a quarter of the season has gone and injuries have been disruptive and not helped Wrexham in their quest to launch another promotion challenge but every club has to deal with absentees and the Reds are no different.
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