LIAM MCALINDEN believes successive 1-0 home victories has highlighted Wrexham’s defensive resolve and the midfielder believes his side will really start to click when they start taking more of their chances.

Paul Mullin was the match winner on Saturday as Phil Parkinson’s men inflicted a first defeat of the season on Dagenham and Redbridge who surrendered top spot.

Just like the previous weekend against Woking at The Racecourse, Wrexham controlled the first half but only had one goal to show for their efforts and were made to dig in after the break as the visitors came more into the contest.

McAlinden is pleased with the character shown not to concede an equaliser and the summer signing wants the Reds to start being more clinical at the other end.

“We probably should have got two or three but it is just as good a sign that the 1-0 wins at home at this point in the season show we are dogged and we are a team working for each other,” said McAlinden.

“We are only going to improve at the other end but when we are already keeping clean sheets and we are working hard for each other, to get these wins is only a good sign.

“Hopefully as the season goes on we start to be more clinical, start to gel a bit more and going forward, it is only going to get better.”

McAlinden was handed his first start against the Daggers having been restricted to five substitute appearances since making the switch from Morecambe.

The 27-year-old was delighted to finally get his big chance.

“I have had to be patient over the last few weeks and wait for my chance,” said McAlinden.

“But I got the nod this week, I come in and hopefully impressed, and we have got the result that we wanted.”

McAlinden played behind strikers Mullin and Jordan Ponticelli and impressed with his link-up play.

It was a role that he enjoyed playing and the icing on the cake was Wrexham bouncing back from a first defeat of the campaign at Grimsby in midweek by picking up three points.

“It was a slight adjustment to the shape with James Jones and Luke Young dropping back and me going in behind the front two,” said McAlinden.

“From the start of the game we got on the front foot and it managed to help the press and drive us on.

“Mulls’ goal is a bit of his own work and it was a fantastic finish but we know we have got that in front of us so when we can win the ball and feed him, he is going to score goals.

“I was delighted to be back in the team and to get the win made it a perfect afternoon.”

McAlinden will hope to keep his place in the starting XI when Wrexham face fellow promotion favourites Stockport County at Edgeley Park in Saturday's big game.