Swindon Town have lost four games in succession after an early goal proved to be enough for Wrexham AFC to come away with a 1-0 win from the County Ground.
James McClean gave Wrexham an early lead as he made the most of indecision on the edge of the box in a first half that was starved of obvious opportunities.
The second half opened up more and a few desperate blocks and fine saves were needed to keep Swindon in touch, but they were never able to find a way beyond the stubborn Wrexham rear-guard.
This win was Wrexham’s first at the County Ground since 1985 and moves Town further down the League Two table into 15th.
Lewis Ward came in to start his first league match for Swindon since they played Port Vale in the play-offs two seasons ago in place of the injured Murphy Mahoney. Tom Brewitt recovered enough from his injury to be involved in a matchday squad since Harrogate Town. Aside from that Michael Flynn had the same squad available to him that he had against Tranmere Rovers three days ago.
Wrexham took just 13 minutes to get the opener as the ball ran under Williams Kokolo’s foot and into the path of McClean. One touch took him away from Harrison Minturn and the former Wigan Athletic man tucked his shot beyond Ward.
Swindon had looked good in the opening exchanges, playing nice, slick passes to ease the pressure Wrexham were putting them under, but the goal changed that. The crowd was silenced and the energy seemed to go out of the players and small errors began to creep into their play.
After the frantic madness of the reverse fixture back in August, this encounter was far more tactical, with neither side wishing to risk being blown away by the other. Wrexham began to drop deep after their goal and let Swindon hold possession in non-dangerous areas, knowing they were the favourites for every aerial ball.
Town had been struggling to create too many chances, with their best of the first 45 coming after 28 minutes when Remeao Hutton whipped a free-kick in from the right. The ball was perfectly placed to attack, but Charlie Austin and Tyrese Shade were just inches too far behind it.
Wrexham then went up the other end through Anthony Forde, he played a low ball into McClean with a huge amount of room, but he failed to make a clean contact and his shot bounced limply wide of the far post.
Yet another injury in the Swindon ranks saw George McEachran have to come off during the first half with Brewitt replacing him. This briefly unsettled Town as Saidou Khan did not adapt to going back into midfield quickly, with Elliott Lee and James Jones both getting shots off after they were allowed too much space in the middle of the park.
Wrexham came flying out of the traps in the second half as after a matter of seconds Andy Cannon was found in oceans of space in the box, but his shot was blocked by Williams Kokolo. His block fell to James Jones on the edge of the box, and Kokolo was again there
Two minutes after that Max Cleworth got up from the back and played a fine cross to the back stick. Lee and McClean were queuing up to get on the end of it, Lee headed at goal from inside the six-yard box but it went straight at Ward.
Ward made a stunning save as Forde picked out Sam Dalby on the edge of the six-yard box, his header hurtled toward the bottom corner only for Ward to get down and push the ball away before Hutton hooked the ball further clear.
Hutton skipped away from Jacob Mendy on the right and found Jake Young at the far post. He brought the ball down and looked to shoot but Ben Tozer made an outstanding block.
After 75 minutes Jones was given a second yellow card for Wrexham after bringing down Shade on the edge of the area, giving Swindon 15 minutes to make the most of their man advantage.
Jake Cain made a great run in behind Wrexham and his cross was deflected into the path of Young, but his finish was poor and went wide of the target.
Khan then had another big chance to level the scores as Young found him in space in the area, but he could not find the target.
In stoppage time Young got the ball after a goalmouth scramble and poked the ball over Okonkwo, but it struck the front of the crossbar.
The attacks kept coming and a cross found Cain in the area, his shot took a mean deflection but the 'keeper was again there to save.
STFC starting XI: L. Ward, Hutton, McEachran, Young, Khan, Kemp, Kokolo, Kinsella, Shade, Minturn, Austin.
STFC substitutes: Evans, Brewitt, Cain, Dworzak, McGregor, Hart, Evans.
WAFC starting XI: Okonkwo, Tozer, Forde, Dalby, Mendy, Cannon, O’Connor, McClean, Jones, Cleworth, Lee.
WAFC substitutes: Howard, Davies, Young, Mullin, Boyle, Fletcher, Barnett.
Attendance: 12,271 (1,435 away).
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