Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Wrexham have won 17 of their 42 Championship matches so far this season
ByIan MitchelmoreBBC Sport Wales- Published48 minutes ago
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Phil Parkinson feels Wrexham's 2-0 loss to Birmingham City represented a missed opportunity as his side failed to close the gap to the Championship play-off places.
Carlos Vicente and Christoph Klarer both netted in the second half as the Blues earned a comfortable victory over the Red Dragons - who stay four points adrift of the top six with four games remaining this season.
Parkinson says two defensive lapses proved costly, although he remains confident that his side can still finish in the top six this season.
"We came here today expecting Birmingham to play direct and go into the front quickly, which they did at Ipswich, and we were prepared for that," he said.
"I thought first half, it was a competitive game and we handled those situations well. We lacked a bit of patience when we had possession in the top third of the pitch and made the wrong decision on a few occasions.
"We were right in the game, and we're just so disappointed with the goals we've conceded today because, out of nothing, two moments have been really costly for us."
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The hosts controlled proceedings for long periods of the contest and created numerous chances throughout.
They ended the match having had eight shots on target, with Wrexham failing to test goalkeeper James Beadle.
Birmingham's xG (expected goals) of 1.55 dwarfed Wrexham's meagre figure of 0.08 while the Blues had almost four times as many touches in the opposition box (22) as Wrexham (six) managed.
It meant the Red Dragons failed to score in an away league match for the first time in 11 games while they tasted defeat on the road in the Championship for just a second time in 10 outings.
"First half we didn't connect the game in terms of the top third of the pitch," said Parkinson.
"I thought we switched it well. We got Issa [Kabore] in some great positions. We grew into the game in terms of the football.
"But it's just then, in that area, can we pick the right pass, show that element of calmness to then make sure that top third possession results in chances.
"In every game this season, we've carried a threat, we've been a goal threat, even against Premier League teams in the cup.
"We've played top teams in this division, we've scored goals and today we just couldn't find a way to produce that quality."
Despite defeat at St Andrew's, Wrexham remain in the play-off mix.
They sit four points behind sixth-placed Hull City with four regular season matches left to play this term.
"We haven't had many back-to-back defeats. We've had a tough week this week, but we're not down and out yet," Parkinson said.
"I think the positive of the day is that we've come to Birmingham, a team who were a long way ahead of us last year points-wise, and we're ahead of them in the division and we're the team coming here today still with a chance at the play-offs.
"It's not over yet. People will probably write us off, and you can understand that to a certain degree.
"But inside the dressing room, we're not writing ourselves off and we're one win away from getting ourselves going again."
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