• Home
  • Football
  • Painful Defeat For Manager Bryan And His Dragons

Painful Defeat For Manager Bryan And His Dragons

Rodney Parade, home of the Dragons. Pic: Alamy

Rodney Parade, home of the Dragons. Pic: Alamy

Wrexham are hurting after a below par team display in their 3-1 Vanarama National League home defeat against Barrow. More than 4,600 spectators were at the Racecourse, but the Dragons struggled badly to find their best form. “We didn’t handle the conditions well if I am being honest,” says manager Bryan Hughes. “Barrow did a […]

Wrexham are hurting after a below par team display in their 3-1 Vanarama National League home defeat against Barrow.

More than 4,600 spectators were at the Racecourse, but the Dragons struggled badly to find their best form.

“We didn’t handle the conditions well if I am being honest,” says manager Bryan Hughes.

“Barrow did a job, played to the conditions and worked hard. They turned us and got into the right areas, especially in that first half.

http://https://youtu.be/GoUTPRou328

“They got plenty of bodies into the box and we couldn’t handle it to be honest.

“Our quality on the ball wasn’t quite good enough. We were causing our own problems defensively and were punished for it.

“I put two strikers on the pitch to combat what we thought they would play and credit to them for changing their tactics as well. 

“We had to shuffle early to get a grip on the game, but some of the decision making and the things that going on during the first half weren’t acceptable at times.

“I’ve spoken about the characters we have in the dressing room and some of the qualities we have. 

“There is togetherness, desire and commitment. I didn’t feel we were like that in this game for some reason, we were far too individual at times.

http://https://youtu.be/b2gYVb4C3tU

“The strength of our team is that togetherness. We can’t use the conditions as an excuse, both teams had to play in them, but the fact that Barrow adapted quicker than us was disappointing.

“We don’t have time to dwell. There is another game coming up fast on Saturday.

“I have every belief in the players. They have already shown in my short spell here they can adjust.”

Wrexham were blown away in the first 45 minutes against Barrow at the Racecourse.

Barrow took an early lead when after two minutes when Dan Jones flicked a header past goalkeeper Rob Lainton and Jacob Blyth added their second (24).

It was 3-0 by half-time after Lewis Hardcastle scored just before the break.

http://https://youtu.be/7XaGEUtvWzA

Kieran Kennedy pulled a goal back following a Luke Young free-kick with 77 minutes gone and Wrexham looked a lot brighter at that stage, but there were still too many home errors.

It’s imperative that the Dragons come out hard when struggling Maidstone United visit the Cae Ras on Saturday.

Wrexham: Lainton, Roberts, Jennings, Kennedy, Young, Oswell (Stockton 53), McGlashan (Rutherford 53), Wright, Beavon (Holroyd 76), Tollitt, Lawlor. Subs not used: Dibble, Grant.

Barrow: Dixon, Jones, Taylor, Rooney, Blyth, Kay, Angus (Hindle 21), Hardcastle (Bartham 55, Molyneux 59), Jamieson, Jennings, Norrington-Davies. Subs not used: Saltmer, Turner.

Referee: Simon Mather (Greater Manchester)

Attendance: 4,613 (away 95)

Vanarama National League fixtures

Saturday, March 16: Aldershot Town v Salford City, Barnet v Hartlepool United, Dover Athletic v Halifax Town, Eastleigh v Barrow, Ebbsfleet United v Boreham Wood, Harrogate Town v Maidenhead United, Havant & Waterlooville v Chesterfield, Solihull Moors v Braintree Town, Sutton United v Gateshead, Wrexham v Maidstone United.

P W D L GD PTS
1 Leyton Orient 37 21 10 6 +33 73
2 Solihull M 37 21 7 9 +27 70
3 Wrexham 38 20 9 9 +17 69
4 AFC Fylde 37 18 13 6 +31 67
5 Salford 37 19 9 9 +25 66

Related News

Ethan Ampadu of Leeds United and Wales. Pic: Alamy

Wales Foursome Have FA Cup, World Cup, and Survival Scrap on Their Mind

Wales will soon be turning to their honorary four Yorkshireman – Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Dan James and Karl Darlow – and be relieved to find they are fit and firing.

Ian Mitchelmore | 10 hours ago
Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik celebrates. Pic: Alamy

Hey, Swansea City . . . What’s the Plan for Zan?

Zan is the man for Swansea City right now, but is that for the short or long term, considers Ian Mitchelmore.

Ian Mitchelmore | Mar 12, 2026
Newport County players. Pic. Alamy

Newport County Can Still Roll the Dice . . . But They Need Ladders, Not Snakes

With just 10 regular season games left to play in 2025-26, Newport County's season is fast approaching crunch time, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

Ian Mitchelmore | Mar 12, 2026
Wrexham's Kieffer Moore. Pic. Alamy

Kieffer Moore Blow Casts Shadow Over Wales and Wrexham Hopes

Kieffer Moore’s injury has cast a cloud of anxiety that has settled over both Wrexham and Wales as both bid for a step towards glory.

David Williams | Mar 11, 2026
Head Coach Vitor Matos. Pic. Alamy

Swansea City Boss Ignores Play-Off Chat . . . But Wrexham Clash Will Turn up the Volume

Vitor Matos insists talk of a Championship play-off push by Swansea City is not on his mind ahead of Friday’s big Welsh derby against Wrexham.

David Williams | Mar 11, 2026
Brian Barry-Murphy Head Coach of Cardiff City. Pic. Alamy

It’s not Meant to be Easy, Insists Brian Barry-Murphy as Cardiff City Held

Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy insists the grind of a League One promotion race was never supposed to be easy after his side slipped up again.

David Parsons | Mar 11, 2026