There is a particular kind of dejection that settles in a dressing room when the manager uses the word "soft" — and Phil Parkinson did not hold back after Wrexham's 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City at the Racecourse Ground. Two headed goals from Birmingham's central defender Phil Neumann did the damage, and Parkinson was bold enough to describe them, in his post-match press conference, as among the softest he has conceded during his time in charge — a reign that stretches back to 2021.

It was a difficult evening for the Red Dragons on more than one level. Captain Dom Hyam, one of the more dependable figures at the heart of Wrexham's back three, spoke with an honesty that cut straight to the point. "You just can't give any team at any level simple goals like that," he said. "We were quite easy to score against tonight, frankly, and they didn't really have to work for their goals, which is unlike us — which is what hurts."

Four games, no clean sheets

That defeat to Birmingham leaves Wrexham without a win or a clean sheet across all four of their competitive fixtures so far this season. It is an early-season statistic that needs context, of course, but it also arrives with echoes of last term ringing uncomfortably in the ears.

In their debut Championship campaign, Wrexham conceded 65 league goals — only five sides in the division leaked more. Two of those five teams, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City, were subsequently relegated. Parkinson's men also shipped two or more goals in 22 of their 46 league matches, and they made 29 defensive errors leading directly to a shot, a figure only six Championship sides exceeded. When it came to attempts on target faced, only Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, and Swansea City were tested more often than Wrexham's tally of 203.

There were genuine excuses available last season. Wrexham had arrived in the Championship fresh off a third successive promotion, their squad stitched together quickly, new faces needing time to acclimatise to the physicality and quality of the second tier. A settled defensive unit was hard to find.

Same back three, same questions

This season, though, Parkinson has had the luxury of consistency. Zak Vyner, Hyam, and Callum Doyle — the latter actually getting on the scoresheet against Birmingham — have started as the back three in all four matches. The chopping and changing of last season has gone. And yet the clean sheets have not arrived.

Parkinson has floated one possible explanation — that transfer speculation may have unsettled certain players, particularly during the opening half against Birmingham. "A bit of uncertainty in the camp, players coming in, rumours of this and that," he said. "Has that affected us? I don't know. It looked like it in the first half tonight because I just wanted to see more belief in us." Whether the market calms down and stability returns in training may have a direct bearing on how the back line performs in the weeks ahead.

The 'horrible' factor

Hyam's prescription for what Wrexham need is refreshingly straightforward. The Scotland centre-back believes the defensive unit must rediscover an aggression and doggedness — a willingness to make life genuinely unpleasant for opposing forwards — that he felt was conspicuously absent on the night.

"Us as defenders need to pride ourselves on being more solid at the back and just defending the goal," he said. "When we need to be, we need to be a bit horrible. We weren't quite that tonight, so that's what it needs to be."

Wrexham will have a chance to begin building that nastier streak when they travel to The Den to face Millwall on Wednesday evening, a ground that has seen off more than a few sides who came looking for easy football. If the Red Dragons cannot find their defensive edge somewhere, the Racecourse faithful will be spending another season watching through their fingers.

Frequently asked

How many goals have Wrexham conceded so far this season?
Wrexham have conceded five goals in four matches across all competitions at the start of the 2025-26 season, and are yet to keep a clean sheet.
Who plays in Wrexham's back three this season?
Zak Vyner, Dom Hyam, and Callum Doyle have started together in all four of Wrexham's fixtures so far this season.
When is Wrexham's next Championship match?
Wrexham travel to Millwall on Wednesday evening, with kick-off at 19:45 BST.