Black was the colour of the new Wrexham away kit and it was also the colour that summed up the sombre mood on the away terraces at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, as Accrington raced to a convincing and crushing victory over the previously undefeated Dragons.

After only conceding just four goals in our previous six league games, we managed to ship five to team with a poor defensive record themselves and with only seven in seven games to their credit.

Strangely enough, Wrexham made an impressive start the game, with a shot being deflected behind for a corner and then Shaun Pejic heading another flag kick over the bar and into the massed ranks of travelling Wrexham fans at that end of the ground.

Both teams had appeals for hand ball waved away, Stanley for Gary Roberts on Steve Evans and then Mark Jones hitting a long range effort against Phil Edwards, but referee Clive Oliver was uninterested in either.

Ian Craney opened the Wrexham defence on 21 minutes with a high pass out to Roberts on the right, but the former BangorCity striker was unable to control his effort and flew high into the dark Lancashire night.

The first booking of the evening went to Stanley's returning captain Peter Cavanagh on 23 minutes, who had up ended Chris Llewellyn on the halfway line.

Mark Jones has his progress checked

Successive corners just after the half hour mark forced Wrexham onto the back foot as Accrington lifted their game. Another break by Roberts caught out Ryan Valentine, who lost his footing as the cross went over and found the unmarked head of Andrew Procter, who headed wide from close range.

A goal for the home side came on 41 minutes when Roberts' initial effort was only parried by Michael Ingham, but with no covering defender Paul Mullen had plenty of time to lift the ball over the stranded keeper.

Josh Johnson came on for the injured Matty Done at the break and within moments it took a good tackle back to deny Newby.

After a save by Ingham, tuning away a low shot, Ian Craney's corner kick deceived everyone and went into the net unaided three minutes after the restart!

On 52 minutes, a high bouncing ball through the middle was not dealt with by the Wrexham defence and Gary Roberts was left in space to fire passed the exposed keeper.

Joy was unbound for the home fans on 55 minutes, when from a free kick Paul Cavanagh fired home after he spotted Ingham still organising his defence.

Fergie looks for a way through

Denis Smith was left with few choices at this stage and decided to bring on the Williams brothers for Newby and Spender, to at least limit the damage.

With Wrexham looking for some consolation - Marc Williams watching as his shot through legs was cleared off the line - the home side broke clear once again as Gary Roberts chased a long ball, and with Ingham racing outside his area the striker simply lobbed him and turned away in glee as the ball rolled into an empty net!

In the final moments of the game, Roberts once again broke clear but this time Ingham stood up to him and as able to make a block before diving on the lose ball to deny the striker his seventh goal in just four games!

Just where was the side that so convincingly saw off Grimsby Town, Sheffield Wednesday and league leaders Swindon Town?

There has never been a 0-0 draw between the two clubs - how we would have settled for one tonight!