DEAN KEATES heaped praise on supporters for their brilliant backing at Torquay and was "gutted" Wrexham failed to get the win the fans deserved.

A total of 132 Reds supporters make the 510 mile round trip to Plainmoor on Tuesday night where Wrexham were on top for an hour in driving rain and strong winds.

But Torquay scored the only goal against the run of play and third from bottom Wrexham are now three points adrift of safety having won once in 15 league games.

Keates felt Wrexham definitely deserved something from the game.

"I am absolutely gutted for the players and gutted for the fans," said Keates.

"We brought 150 fans down there; an unbelievable following on a Tuesday night.

"To come that far away and in that weather, I am gutted for them.

"I am sure they will be disappointed with the result but they can see it was a lot more of a Wrexham performance.

"We were on the front foot, the lads were in the opposition's faces and we got into them first half, and that is against a team who is bang in form.

"That sums up football though. When you are in form and in a good position, you get your little bits of luck and when you are down there, you always feel like everything goes against you.

"But the workrate, it that keeps happening and they keep getting to the levels that we expect them to be at, it will turn."

Keates could not fault his side's commitment and although pleased with the performance, the Reds boss admits the players need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

"First half I thought we were outstanding in difficult conditions, passed it and moved it really well and cut through them loads of times," said Keates.

"It was just the finishing article of a goal.

"We should have been ahead at half-time; the players who missed the chances held their hands up.

"That is where we need to be ruthless.

"In our 18 yard box, other than one player switching off, blocks went in, people were heading it and there were proper clearances.

"It was a good reaction from Saturday and we definitely deserved something out of the game but we didn't get it."