DEAN KEATES described it as the perfect away performance as Wrexham began 2020 with a 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Chorley at Victory Park.

Second half goals from Devonte Redmond and Omari Patrick ensured Wrexham did the double over the Magpies over the festive period, with victory taking the Reds out of the National League relegation zone.

Although his side weren't at their best, Keates was delighted to bounce back from Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Maidenhead with 19th placed Wrexham now two points above the drop zone.

"It was far from the polished performance that we would like but we have got an away performance," said Keates.

"It is not an easy place to come no matter where they are in the league, and we needed a reaction on the back of the disappointment at Maidenhead, and we got that.

"We knew it was a case of making sure that we were organised and disciplined, and we knew we had pace up top so we had to keep turning them around.

"It was all about getting some points."

On-loan winger Patrick marked his return to the starting XI in style.

Paired in attack with JJ Hooper, Patrick set up Redmond for the opening goal before scoring his fifth goal for the Reds with a stunning strike from outside the area.

Patrick's contribution did not go unnoticed but Keates was just as happy to keep a clean sheet.

"Omari has scored some decent goals since he's come in," said Keates.

"It was case of offering an extra bit of pace up top and he did that.

"First and foremost, it was a case of demanding the basics.

"It was about the passion and the pride for the football club, and ultimately the work rate.

"Give the lads credit, they stood up to it and we didn't look like conceding." Although Wrexham beat Chorley at The Racecourse on Boxing Day, defeats either side of it at Maidenhead and Sutton left the Reds in the bottom four at the end of 2019.

But victory at Victory Park means Wrexham have won four of their last six league games and Keates was pleased with the reaction from his players following the weekend defeat.

"We are in a battle, we know that, but we are in an okay bit of form," said Keates.

"We have won four out of six games.

"The disappointing thing is the two defeats and how they came about.

"They came from poor performances that came on the back end of decent performances; there has been no consistency.

"At Chorley, it was just about being rugged, organised and disciplined, and we knew with the pace that we had up top we would create some opportunities."

Although Shaun Pearson was named in the side, he was withdrawn before kick-off and became one of three changes that Keates made to the starting XI.

Wrexham, roared on by around 800 fans, sealed victory and Keates was glad supporters had something to cheer about.

"I lost two players in the morning so 2020 didn't get off to a great start," added Keates.

"At 9am I had my captain calling me saying his back was sore and I lost Luke Summerfield to illness through the night.

"You think 'not one of them' but full credit to the players, the lads who went out there kept a clean sheet which was massive for us.

"It certainly wasn't pretty but it was what we needed.

"It was a good away performance. Great numbers came to support us and full credit to the fans.

"They travelled up in numbers. It has not been great and all being well we can make sure 2020 continues on the back end of a good three points at Chorley."