RYAN BARNETT says the players are striving to improve Wrexham's away form.

Phil Parkinson's men boast the best home record in League Two, with the Reds picking up 11 wins, two draws and a solitary 5-3 defeat to MK Dons on the opening day of the season in 14 outings at The Racecourse.

In contrast, Wrexham have only clinched four victories in 13 games on their travels along with five draws and four loses.

One of those defeats came on Saturday as Newport triumphed 1-0 in the Welsh derby at Rodney Parade, with the Reds' playing for more than 70 minutes with ten-men after Will Boyle was shown a straight red card.

Wrexham remain second in the table, just two points behind leaders Stockport County, but when asked why the home form is so much better, Barnett said: "I am not too sure.

"We spoke about it as a group last week and we wanted to put it right.

"We are so good at home and whether it is a slow start away or something like that and we wanted to put it right but then something like the sending off happens 

"We have got to go back to the drawing board and work out why."

Barnett, making his first start since October after recovering from a knee ligament injury, says Wrexham are seen as a scalp by their opponents who attract bumper crowds for the visit of the Reds but the wing-back feels that is something the players have shown they can handle.

"It is almost wherever we go at the moment that it is going to be a sell-out and that is what us as players have got to get used," said the 24-year-old.

"I think we already are.

"We know from last year that almost everywhere we go, people want to watch us, they want to see what we are about and they want to beat us.

"That is where we have got to rise to it but keep calm heads and try and do our best."

Newport took the lead in the 34th minute and ten-man Wrexham never looked like getting back into the game as the winning start to 2024 came to an end.

"It was a tough game," said Barnett. "We knew coming into it that it was a sell-out and the crowd was going to be on our backs, and their players were going to be up for it.

"But the sending off really shaped the game. It made us a lot more open and gave Newport more chances.

"From our own experiences of going down to ten-men this season, we know it is an uphill battle."

The controversial dismissal of Boyle, following what was deeded a dangerous tackle on Shane McLoughlin, left Wrexham with a mountain to climb as Newport gained revenge for the 2-0 defeat in north Wales on December 23.

"You expect that from a Welsh derby, everyone right up for it and tackles flying in," said Barnett.

"That is where you have got to keep a calm head. I haven't actually seen the red card back so I can't comment on that but when you go down to ten-men, obviously it gives the other team the upper hand.

"I think we would have shown what we are really about with 11 players but having ten-men shaped the game."