DEAN KEATES hailed his superb strikeforce after Wrexham ended their away day blues but he still wants to add to his attacking options.

Keates has favoured a 4-3-3 system in recent weeks but with the Reds sitting bottom of the table heading into Tuesday's clash at Eastleigh, Keates switched to a 5-3-2 formation and it had the desired effect.

On loan winger Omari Patrick partnered Bobby Grant in attack and the Bradford City man scored twice in the first half as Wrexham triumphed 2-0, registering a first away win of the season.

Keates praised Patrick, who has impressed since arriving at The Racecourse last month, but says Grant was the perfect foil.

"We changed a few things around and it worked," said Keates. "Omari has done well and Bobby was a bit of cannon-fodder for him.

"He dropped into little pockets and gave Omari an opportunity to use one of his attributes which is pace and he took his goals well.

"On another night he could have had a hat-trick.

"Omari has been outstanding since he's come in.

"He hasn't really had his opportunity at Bradford, we knew about the lad and he was available.

"We knew what he could bring to us. He is not an out and out number nine but he can play up there in a two.

"He commits people and he gets at people, and is the kind of player fans want to see."

In the absence of JJ Hooper and Jason Oswell - the latter made his comeback from injury as a substitute against Eastleigh - Grant has been used as the central striker.

It is an unfamiliar role for Grant, the Reds' leading scorer with eight goals, and Keates is looking to strengthen up top in the January transfer window.

"Bobby has been doing an unbelievable job up there on his own," said Keates. "He is not an out and out number nine.

"I have been looking and making phone calls galore to try and get someone in but I don't really want to bring a first time loan from the under 23s into this kind of football because they are not accustomed to it.

"Looking at league players, no-one is available and it is going to be January."

Keates felt Wrexham were good value for their win and believes it provided a lift in the bid to beat the drop.

"We got the result that we deserved, there is no doubt about that," said Keates. "Fair play to the players, they stood up and got countered.

"Second half we were solid, organised and disciplined. They put a lot of balls into the box and we got put under a lot of pressure but we defended for our lives.

"We could have been a lot better with the ball but the last few games, from box to box we have been okay with the ball but we have just not been ruthless enough.

"There were aspects at Eastleigh where we weren't as good as we have been over the last few games but it was backs against the wall and they stood up and got counted.

"We go on about the fine margins of football but we just needed a result, and give everybody a tiny bit of a lift at the football club."

The club board issued a statement on Sunday apologising to supporters after Wrexham fell to the National League basement.

Keates, who held talks with directors, felt the players showed at Eastleigh that they are committed to the cause.

"We are accountable," added Keates.

"The players come to this football club and know what they are coming into; an unbelievable stadium and unbelievable, passionate fans.

"The football club is the town so if the football club is doing well, it is a good feeling around the town.

"If it's not, people go to work, pay their hard earned money and you want to be entertained at the weekend so it is frustrating.

"Are we going to entertain every weekend? No. Was it entertaining on Tuesday? Bits and pieces were decent.

"The fans that came down would have seen that but the most important thing was 11 players and two subs that came on gave absolutely everything for the jersey, for the badge.

"That's what we need to take forward into the weekend and the rest of the season."