Wrexham's difficult start to life in the Championship continued, as they lost 3-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers. The Londoners took the spoils thanks to a Conor Coady own goal, a thunderous strike from recently recruited striker Richard Kone, and a smart breakway finish by Rumran Burrell. The Red Dragons third loss of the season came in front of co-owner Ryan Reynolds.
Getty Images SportWrexham beaten again
The Red Dragons shaded the opening quarter of the game, dominating possession without creating a tangible chance. Matty James probably saw the clearest look at goal, firing wide after Ryan Longman's effort at the culmination of a free-flowing move was blocked by a QPR defender.
Steadily, the visitors grew into the game. Arthur Okwonkwo was twice called upon to deny Japanese winger Koki Saito. The ex-Arsenal keeper looked helpless in the 34th minute however, as Wrexham failed to clear their area allowing Rumran Burrell to turn the ball goalwards. His effort rebounded off Okwonkwo and onto Connor Coady, with the ball bizarrely trickling over the goal line to give the visitors the lead.
Wrexham's misery was compounded just five minutes later. Summer signing Richard Kone proved his worth to his new employers. Turning smartly outside the Red Dragons box and powering a strike into the top right corner of the net to double the visitors lead.
Again, Wrexham looked the brighter side to open the second half with Kieffer Moore forcing a save out of Paul Nardi in the Hoops net in the 47th minute.
Ryan Hardie was given the hook on the hour mark, shortly after wasting a gilt-edge chance after breaking clear of the last line of Rangers' defence on the break. The Scottish striker dithered, waiting for support when surely he should have shot, allowing Liam Morrison to recover and block a tame effort. Hardie's replacement Sam Smith wasted little time in impacting the game, drawing a double save out of Nardi just minutes after entering the fray.
Wrexham finally got their breakthrough in the 67th minute. An in-swinging Lewis O'Brien corner from the right-hand side was met by the mountainous Moore at the front stick. His glancing header was the perfect touch to convert the dangerous dead-ball delivery.
Just as it looked the Red Dragons were dragging themselves back into the game, the visitors landed another sucker punch. A heave forward into Wrexham's half allowed Burrell to steam onto the ball, leaving a flailing Coady in his wake en route to clipping a smart finish past an onrushing Okwonkwo.
Karamoko Dembele should have made it four when he again got behind the Wrexham defence. His brilliant chipped effort left Okwonkwo stranded but ultimately struck the woodwork. It was another shot against the bow of a Wrexham defence that looked exposed and lacking in the requisite pace in the second tier. Having conceded 10 goals in their five games since returning to the Championship, Phil Parkinson has urgent work to do if the Red Dragons intend on making a splash in the Championship this season. Meanwhile, QPR can celebrate their first away points of the young season.
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Kone has proven to be an instant hit in west London, bagging his third goal of the season in style. The Ivorian has made the step up from League One to the Championship look easy.
Getty Images SportBiggest loser: Wrexham's Coady exposed for pace
It was a difficult day for the ex-Wolves captain. Not only did he bundle the ball into his own net, he looked desperately short of pace as Burrell breezed past him for the visitors' third. Wrexham's leaky defence needs more from the veteran.
What comes next for Wrexham?
The Red Dragons face a tricky assignment next weekend, as they travel to Carrow Road to face 7th placed Norwich. With just four points from their opening five games, perhaps it's time for the ambitious ownership group to accept a period of 'consolidation' is in the club's immediate future.