Wrexham AFC failed to capitalise on yesterday's results, as they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Neither side managed to create many chances of note in a closely contested first-half, but Owen Bailey managed to break the deadlock in the 44th minute with a timely header.
Paul Mullin thought he had netted his 100th goal for the Club after 77 minutes to salvage a point, but it was ruled out for offside.
The visitors battled away in the final minutes as Sam Dalby came on, but they failed to find an equaliser and a stubborn Rovers defence, ultimately falling short.
Phil Parkinson named an unchanged line-up from the win against Mansfield Town on Friday, with Wrexham looking to capitalise on results elsewhere to strengthen their position in the top three.
Mullin got the game underway, but it was the hosts who got off to a quicker start in Yorkshire, looking to utilise the wide areas and put Wrexham under pressure where possible.
Hakeeb Adelakun registered the first real chance of the match as Rovers broke at speed, before the forward picked the ball up and fired from outside the box, but his effort in the fifth minute was wide of goal.
While the Red Dragons had to provide a resolute defence, there were also reminders of their attacking threat on display as Mullin and Ollie Palmer looked to impose themselves on a physical backline.
Palmer’s closest effort came in the 17th minute, as the 32-year-old glanced a header towards the back-post, but it drifted just wide of the post and Mullin, who was also waiting to direct the ball home.
The match started to spark into life with ten minutes remaining, as Elliot Lee fired an effort over from the edge of the box as Parkinson’s side looked to break the deadlock at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Will Boyle also tried his luck as he was on the end of a free-kick after 39 minutes, but the defender couldn’t deliver with considerable pressure placed on him from the opposition.
From this point, Grant McCann’s side then started to capitalise on their counter-attacking threats with minutes remaining until the interval.
Their biggest chance came in the 40th minute, as a fantastic ball from Luke Molyneux found Maxime Biamou, but the Frenchman’s first-time effort drifted wide – a big let off for Wrexham.
Just as Andy Cannon had a penalty shout turned down, Doncaster eventually went up the other end and broke the deadlock.
Celebrations ensued in Yorkshire, as Owen Bailey headed home in the 44th minute, leaving Wrexham with a one-goal deficit to overcome in the second half.
Parkinson made one change at the break, as Luke Bolton was replaced by Ryan Barnett in a like-for-like swap. The change seemed to work initially, as Barnett enjoyed some good success down the right flank.
Wrexham’s first big chance of the second half happened to be one of their biggest, but Will Boyle couldn’t head home at the far-post with his effort ending up wide of Doncaster’s goal in the 51st minute.
Barnett was the next to go close just minutes after, firing an effort just wide of goal on his right-foot as the wing-back continues to look for his first goal in a Wrexham shirt.
A double change was then made, as Steven Fletcher and George Evans replaced Palmer and Boyle, with the Red Dragons still struggling to sustain any real dominance.
The hosts almost doubled their lead with two opportunities in the space of as many minutes, as Richard Wood saw a shot well caught by Arthur Okonkwo, while Adelakun scuppered his chance wide.
Mullin thought he had scored an equaliser and in turn his 100th goal in a Wrexham shirt as he tapped in at the far-post after 77 minutes.
It wasn’t to be though, as replays showed that the Doncaster defence stepped up in the nick of time, as the flag went up and the goal was disallowed for offside.
Wrexham battled away until the very end, with substitute Steven Fletcher having a late header in stoppage time saved by Thimothee Lo-Tutala, as Doncaster claimed their fifth league victory in a row.
Wrexham AFC: Okonkwo (GK), Cleworth (Tozer 90+3’), O'Connell (Dalby 83’), Boyle (Evans 61’), Bolton (Barnett 46’), O'Connor, Cannon, Lee, McClean, Mullin (C), Palmer (Fletcher 61’).
Subs not used: Howard, McFadzean.
Doncaster Rovers: To-Tutula, Sterry, Maxwell, Olowu, Wood (C) (McGrath 90+5’), Molyneux, Biggins (Rowe 78’), Bailey, Biamou (Ironside 69’), Craig (Westbroole 86’), Adelakun.
Subs not used: Jones, Broadbent, Hurst.
Match Attendance: 10,537 (2,240 Away).
