Saunders has come under fire for his absence at the Racecourse

Wrexham captain Ashley Westwood has defended manager Dean Saunders who was absent from the 2-0 home defeat to Hayes & Yeading on Saturday.

Saunders was instead on international duty as part of Wales' coaching team for the 3-0 friendly win over Scotland.

Some Wrexham fans chanted: "Saunders out" during the defeat as they slipped to 15th in the Blue Square Premier.

"It's the players who have let the manager down not the other way around," said Westwood.

"If he was here, what could he have done? He can't get on the pitch and kick a ball.

"He picked the team, he's prepared us all week, he couldn't have prepared us any better.

"We need to take responsibility as individuals and not try and blame somebody else because he's not here.

"It's down to ourselves."

606: DEBATE That was the worst performance I've seen at the Raccourse in 27 years - a total disgrace. Me and a few others at the game have decided that we won't return to Racecourse until Saunders is gone add user name or initials here

Wrexham were undone by two goals from Toby Little inside the first 10 minutes and their already uphill battle was made worse early in the second half when Lamine Sakho received a straight red card for a head-butt on Esmond James.

The Dragons are nine points above the Blue Square Premier relegation zone and 13 points behind Luton Town in the last play-off place.

"We started poorly and in football you can't start poorly and expect to turn the game around straight away," added defender Westwood.

"We ended up getting what we deserved which was nothing.

"We just need to get it out of our system as soon as possible. Too many of us had bad days.

"Sometimes you can afford to carry one or two but certainly the numbers we tried to carry today, you can't do it."

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