Wrexham won 4-1 against the Lilywhites, who are bottom of the Championship, at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Whiteman, who left Deepdale for north Wales in a controversial move in August, scored his first goal for Wrexham in the victory and celebrated by blowing a kiss in the direction of the away fans.

The 30-year-old made more than 200 appearances in five and a half years with Preston, where he was captain, before joining the Reds and he gave as good as he got when he found the back of the net.

"I found myself on the edge of the box, which I like to do, and I stuck in away," he said.

"They were giving me a stick all game which is part and parcel of the game. I actually found it really funny, to be honest, and they can have it back.

"I had a fantastic time there. There's always two sides to every story and mine will get out one day.

"There's a time and place for things and I understand the frustrations because I would have been frustrated if I read all that stuff in the media, but my time will come."

Joe Worrall and Whiteman had Phil Parkinson's side 2-1 up at the break and second half goals from striker Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith sealed victory over Preston.

The Reds bounced back from the 2-1 defeat at home to West Brom which came three days after a 1-1 draw at Derby County, where Ollie Rathbone bagged a late equaliser.

Whiteman admits the standard of performance in those two games after the international break was below par and the Reds had to get back to winning ways.

"That was the most important thing," he said.

"If you look at the performances of the past two games after the break, they've been nowhere near good enough, especially the other night, and you rightly get criticised. That's just part and parcel of the game.

"It's individual accountability as well as the team, and you have got to be better. Otherwise, you're going to get replaced.

"That's what it should be at every football club; if you're not at the races then you're going to get replaced by someone else.

"I thought for 20-25 minutes we weren't great. We weren't at the races but then we scored a good goal from Joe and once we sort of calmed the play down, made a few passes, we were very good.

"Once you carry that threat with Kieffer, Sam and Callum (O'Hare) at the top of the pitch, you would cause anyone problems."

Whiteman felt Wrexham showed a ruthless streak in front of goal that had been missing.

"Even first half without really playing great, we had the better chances in the game," he said.

"We have got to sort of get that ruthless edge, especially when we are dominant.

"We need to put teams to the sword and we did that second-half, ad we could have had a couple more as well."