DEAN KEATES believes "passion and hunger" from his players will help Wrexham turn The Racecourse into a fortress during the 2020-21 National League campaign.

The Reds, who beat Cefn Druids 4-1 in their opening pre-season outing on Tuesday, are also at home tomorrow against a Salford City XI.

It is the latest behind-closed friendly as Wrexham prepare for a 13th campaign in non-league and hopefully much improved from 2019-20 when the Reds battled against relegation.

Keates hopes to be fighting it out at the other end of the table challenging for promotion when the new season starts on October 3 and that means his side forging an impressive home record, with players committed to the cause.

"We have to make sure we turn The Racecourse back into what it used to be over the years and that is a fortress," said Keates.

"That is us being on the front-foot in people's faces, and showing the passion and desire what this football club has been known for over the years, and make sure the fans get behind us.

"The mindset this season is that we have got to be bang at it - and we will be bang at it - to get this club back where it is used to being at that is at the top end of this division competing to get back into the Football League."

Wrexham led 3-1 at the break against Druids with academy graduate Jordan Davies, back for a second spell with his home-town club after leaving Brighton, opening the scoring.

"Jordan popped up with a goal on his home debut that never happened last time he was here," said Keates.

"There were no fans there but hopefully come October 3 and the first home game, he can get one then."

Another summer signing, Kwame Thomas, got the other two goals before the interval, heading home a cross before converting a penalty in his 45-minute run-out.

Keates was certainly impressed with the striker.

"It was a good ball into the box and a great header," said Keates.

"He just showed what he is about; he is a handful up there and he gives us different options.

"The ball into his feet was sticking, he was linking up well and pressing from the front, and any ball up in the air he was winning."

Wrexham dominated the first half and Keates felt his side should have built up a bigger lead as chances went begging.

"We could have scored more if we had been a little bit more clinical," said Keates.

"Obviously disappointed with the goal that we conceded, it is something we have to look at, make sure it is nullified and doesn't happen again.

"But on the other side it could have been six, seven or eight."

A different Wrexham side took time to get into their stride after the break - a trialist scored a late fourth goal - and Keates explained why this was the case.

"I wouldn't say it was a tale of two halves," said Keates.

"We won both halves. It's just that you could see in the first 15 minutes of the second half they were a bit fresher because their players who had played the first half stayed on the pitch.

"We made 11 changes at half-time and they had to grow their way into the game so it just took our momentum away from the first half, and their lads did really well."