DEAN KEATES could tell Wrexham hadn't played for three weeks but he was pleased his battling players dug deep to register a welcome 1-0 win against Hartlepool United.

The Reds, whose last game was a goalless draw with Barnet on October 27 having seen two fixtures postponed under Covid-19 protocols, made a slow start against Pools at Victoria Park.

But Elliott Durrell put Wrexham ahead in the 54th minute with a stunning strike and despite late pressure, the Reds held on to seal three points and end a run of four games without a win.

Victory came a day after it was confirmed that Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will become new owners at The Racecourse and Keates said: “It has been a strange 48 hours at the club but for us as a group, it has been like a strange three weeks.

“I thought first half we looked very, very rusty; a little bit of confidence has not really come back into the group with what happened before the clean sheet and point against Barnet.

“We spoke to them at half-time just to relax and go and make a pass, and I thought for 25 minutes in the second half we came out and played really well.

“We created opportunities and scored an unbelievable goal.

“After that, Hartlepool are chasing the game and we saw the other side. The grittiness and determination of the group taking pride in the clean sheet.

“It was backs to the walls but we stood up to it as we did earlier in the season.”