DEAN KEATES admits his side's performance against Wealdstone was "nowhere near good enough" and his players must take supporters' criticism on the chin following the defeat.

Wrexham went down 4-3 at The Grosvenor Vale Stadium, losing against a team that was bottom of the National League for a second time in a week.

Harsh words were exchanged in the changing room following the final whistle as Wrexham were beaten for the third time in five outings this season, and Keates says the display was not acceptable.

"I said my feelings in the changing room," said Keates. "The lads know where we stand.

"We take it as a group and that is nowhere near good enough to accept for this football club.

"There has been harsh words said from inside the group itself.

"We take it on the chin and it stays in the four walls.

"We have got to work on things now and make sure we go to Solihull on Saturday and give a proper account of ourselves, and do everything we can to make sure we are in the next round of the FA Cup."

Keates, who saw Wrexham register victory in their other two games against Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town, knows the players fell below the standards expected of them.

Having received praise of their performances in those wins, Keates says the Reds have got to take the rough with the smooth.

"It has to improve, this is the standard of this football club and the expectation of this football club," said Keates.

"As I said to the players, the little bit I will say, they will learn now what this football club is about, and what the fanbase is and what they expect.

"You take the plaudits and you take the pats on the back as they have done for their performances against the teams that you expect to be up there; Boreham Wood, Yeovil and to an extent, the performance down at Solihull.

"Now, you have to take the rough with the smooth. It has not been good enough to represent this football club.

"We are a group, we will all take it, but now we have to make sure we work hard this week, go to Solihull and make sure we do the best we can for this football club and get through to the next round."

Wrexham were also beaten 1-0 by Maidenhead last Monday as the Magpies picked up their first points of the campaign to climb off the basement.

Keates knows the Reds failed to hit the heights of previous performances in both outings.

"Playing against two teams bottom of the league, we have got turned over twice," said Keates.

"You have to earn the right to win games. Did we do enough to earn the right? I have got question marks.

"I thought the hard work, intensity, everything that I wanted from them that has been there in the previous games, there were points that one or two didn't get to where they need to be."

Keates pulled no punches when he looked back at the goals his side conceded, admitting it was the worst defensive display since he became a manager.

"Defensively, that is the worst I could ever say that one of my teams has ever been. Not good enough," added Keates.

"The first goal, our own fault. The second goal, our own fault. The third goal, our own fault. The fourth goal, our own fault - it is nowhere near good enough.

"We have got a full week and it will be addressed over the next week on the training ground.

"My belief is we start with a clean sheet and the bare minimum that you walk off a football pitch after 95 minutes is a clean sheet.

"We are creating opportunities, we are not ruthless enough in both 18 yard boxes.

"I didn't see it coming."