Wrexham beat Preston 4-1 as Worrall and Whiteman score first club goals

Wrexham beat Preston North End 4-1 at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, with Joe Worrall and Ben Whiteman scoring their first goals for the club. Sam Smith and Kieffer Moore completed the scoring after the interval. Sky Sports reported that Wrexham's third league victory of the season lifted them to 14th in the Championship, while Preston remained bottom on four points from 11 matches.

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Preston's official match report recorded Worrall's opener in the 31st minute and Alfie Devine's equaliser five minutes later. Worrall headed home a cross before Johnny Kenny's effort at the other end deflected into Devine's path, allowing him to finish. Whiteman restored Wrexham's advantage with a long-range strike in the 42nd minute, sending the hosts into half-time 2-1 ahead.

The visitors had opportunities to respond after the restart but could not convert them. Brad Potts, making his first appearance of the season after replacing Liam Lindsay, shot off target before Wrexham extended their lead. Smith headed in from a corner in the 59th minute, and Moore added the fourth four minutes later from a free-kick, according to Preston's account.

The result gave manager Phil Parkinson a response to recent criticism. In comments reported by BBC Sport, he said he and assistant Steve Parkin had been eager to reunite with the players on Thursday and prepare for the match. Parkinson explained that the coaching staff had carefully considered both team selection and the style of play required, while stressing his belief that the squad could compete this season.

Parkinson also identified injuries as a factor in Wrexham's uneven start. BBC Sport listed Max Cleworth, Nathan Broadhead and Dan Sheaf among those unavailable. The manager described the injury spell as possibly the most difficult of his tenure and said the absent players' return would increase competition for places. He did not provide return dates in those comments.

For Preston, the defeat was Graham Alexander's third in three games since taking charge, Sky Sports reported. Alexander pointed to missed chances early in the second half and goals he felt his side should have prevented. He said improvement would require work as he assessed whether his demands matched the players' current situation.