WREXHAM manager Denis Smith will spend this week working on the case for his defence after watching his makeshift side ship three goals on Saturday to relegation rivals Milton Keynes Dons.

The Dragons slipped to second from bottom of the League One table following their defeat at the National Hockey Stadium and the Racecourse boss confessed he was not happy, despite the mitigating circumstances.

His players squandered enough possession and scoring opportunities to have won the match at a canter and he said: "It's not a nice feeling.

"Normally we are tight at at the back so that if we miss the chances - as we usually do - then we are still in the game.

"But to let three goals in was extremely disappointing. We had a lot of the play but we couldn't put our chances away. I can't be happy with that and although it was basically through bad defending, they stuck their chances away."

Smith admitted a long injury list coupled with the club's financial problems was extremely frustrating.

"I started with two YTS lads today and they've not let me down, but I'm also bringing two lads off the bench who I know are injured and that's not how you should be running a football club," he added..

"Unfortunately that's the situation we're in because of injuries so we've got to live with it but I still don't expect to get beaten 3-0 by a team who, as yet, are not ready to beat anyone 3-0.

"Andy Holt looks more liable to score than anyone, which is worrying. We need goals from more areas, especially the front players. Even with set-plays we're not putting the chances away when they come.

"Steve Roberts had a couple of chances today and my centre-backs usually come up with something, but they've not been doing that of late."

Nevertheless Smith claimed some of his players had not produced what he expected of them.

"Hector's possibly got an excuse because he's been ill and Steve Roberts was sick before the game so there's plenty of reasons why we've lost, but we shouldn't be coming here and being beaten," he said..

"Darren Ferguson will be available next week but I need my other men back - the Jim Whitleys,, the Brian Careys and the Danny Williams.

"I also need a threat from the right and that's no disrespect to Simon Spender but when I've got Carlos Edwards or Dean Bennett there, I'm likely to get goals from that area."

The Racecourse chief believes a deal to take the club out of the hands of owner Alex Hamilton could take months to deliver and said it was up to his players in the meantime to keep the club going.

"We have got to sort things out on the pitch and get our players fit," he added. "We have to win football matches to keep everyone bubbling, and that includes me. If we want people to back us, then we've got to perform on the field.

"It could be the end of January before a deal is put together because these things don't happen overnight. Whoever out there is wanting to come in - and it's likely to be a property developer - will have to get all the planning permission and work with the council and the club."