WINNING became a habit in back-to-back promotion campaigns but Eoghan O’Connell says the players also showed they can handle any set-backs they suffer along the way.

Phil Parkinson’s men only lost three times on route to clinching the 2022-23 National League title following a record-breaking season and although there were slightly more defeats last term, the Reds didn’t let it affect them and finished runners-up in League Two to continue the success story at The Racecourse.

Back in League One following a 19-year absence, Wrexham have hit the ground running and enjoyed a five-game unbeaten start to proceedings before suffering a first defeat at big-spending Birmingham City who triumphed 3-1 in front of the television cameras a week last Monday.

Still among the leaders in the third tier after beating Crawley Town at home last Saturday, Wrexham have proved in the past they can bounce back from losses.

O’Connell says the more experienced players in the squad will help ensure the Reds come through any barren spells now they are playing at a higher level.

“I think last year was kind of a bit different to the National League campaign, where obviously we had one or two runs last year where things weren’t going well,” said the defender. “And, I think that’s the job of the experienced players then to make sure everyone stays level-headed.

“When you’re winning all the time, everyone comes in and it’s great, but I think the real test is how you can be when things aren’t going great and can you stay level-headed and keep everyone together?

“And I think that’s what we did really well last year and even the year before.

“Just stay on an even keel and keep trying to perform well and then the results follow that.”

Jack Marriott’ s brilliant volley in the opening day of the season victory over Wycombe Wanderers has won August’s League One goal of the month competition.

The 30-year-old striker (pictured left) latched onto a brilliant back-heeled flick from Ollie Palmer and volleyed the ball into the roof of the net.

Marriott, who was replaced in the Reds’ starting line-up by Paul Mullin last weekend, is the club’s top scorer so far with four goals.