Wrexham welcomed West Brom to the Racecourse Ground in their first home fixture of the Championship season.
Kieffer Moore recovered from injury to lead the line, however, Liberato Cacace picked up a minor injury and was replaced by James McClean in the only change from the defeat at Southampton.
West Brom took the lead with an excellent finish from Isaac Price before things got even worse for Wrexham as Josh Windass went off with a hamstring injury.
However, Lewis O’Brien equalised for the home side just before half time with an excellent half volley into the roof of the net.
Two second half goals from West Brom took the game away from Wrexham as Jed Wallace put the Baggies in front before Price notched his second.
Sam Smith did grab a late consolation from an excellent Ryan Longman cross, but it couldn’t prevent back-to-back defeats for the Red Dragons to open the campaign.
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Winners from Wrexham’s clash with West Brom
Lewis O’Brien
Getting your first goal for your new club is always a special moment but for O’Brien this one would have been extra sweet.
After reaching a crossroads in his career, O’Brien stepped up for his new club just when they needed him with an excellent finish to get Wrexham back on level terms before half time.
The home side had not got going up until that moment and the midfielder seemed to inject some life back into Parkinson’s team.
Sam Smith
Although he will be disappointed with his place on the bench at the start of the season, Smith will just be pleased being back on the pitch after a disrupted pre-season.
Smith has a point to prove in the Championship after previously struggling in the second tier and the striker will be so pleased to get off the mark early in the campaign.
He was in the right place at the right time to place a header past the keeper in stoppage time and will hope that is enough to remind Parkinson of his quality that was a major part of Wrexham’s promotion.
Losers from Wrexham’s clash with West Brom
Lewis Brunt
Lewis Brunt is a player that will take some time to get used to step up in quality of the Championship, however, the defender looked out of his depth.
Booked in the first half for pulling back Tom Fellows, he also lost Price for the opening goal during a nervy opening period.
Wrexham are interested in Calum Chambers to bolster his defensive options and Brunt could be the man that Parkinson is looking to provide competition for his place in the side.
Josh Windass
Windass was Wrexham’s best player in the opening half hour and the only man to really take any responsibility going forward and trying to make things happen.
However, after being plagued by injuries in recent seasons, the 32-year-old pulled up with a hamstring injury trying to get on the end of Moore’s flick on.
It is not yet known the extent of his injury, however, he pulled up and signalled to the bench immediately which is never a good sign.
A real shame for Windass and Wrexham after such a positive start to his career at the club.
Danny Ward
It was a real surprise to see Danny Ward given the number one jersey ahead of Arthur Okonkwo coming into the season.
Especially given that the young goalkeeper kept an incredible 19 clean sheets last campaign and had developed an excellent relationship with his back line.
However, Ward’s experience won through for Parkinson and the Wales international will be kicking himself for his part in West Brom’s second goal.
The shot plain and simply should not have been allowed through at Ward’s near post and he looked flat-footed in an incident which essentially cost his side a point.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would have been watching on with real pride at seeing their team compete in the second tier of English football.
Despite defeat, it should not be forgotten how far the club have come since they took over in the National League in 2021.
However, substitutes impacted the game once again for Wrexham and the owners will know that further investment is needed in this squad.
They are targeting a finish in the higher reaches of the division, however, from the first initial impressions they are a long way from achieving that.