Hull City 2, Wrexham 1: WREXHAM'S roller-coaster ride through a turbulent season shows no signs of slackening off following another seven days that have tested the club's slender resources to the limit.

Midweek success at Oldham Athletic put the Dragons within touching distance of a first-ever Millennium Stadium appearance, only for their grip on League One survival to be hit by defeat at Hull City's KC Stadium on Saturday.

Robbed by flu of Steve Roberts, Carlos Edwards, Craig Morgan and Chris Llewellyn, Smith had considered using Scott Green as an emergency striker until a quartet of groggy players declared themselves well enough to play.

The gaps in Wrexham's squad meant a positional change for Andy Holt, who was deployed as the third central defender alongside Lawrence and Shaun Pejic, while Alex Smith and Dean Bennett patrolled the defensive flanks.

Without Danny Williams or Jim Whitley, the midfield had a youthful look, Mark Jones and Matt Crowell playing alongside captain Darren Ferguson, but Wrexham kept it tight and had two good chances to go ahead in the space of five first-half minutes.

Both fell to an under-the-weather Armstrong, who headed a 16th-minute Ferguson free-kick just wide of Boaz Myhill's left post and then steered a shot off target after another perceptive through ball from the skipper.

Although the visitors were not having it all their own way - goalkeeper Ben Foster holding efforts from Andy Dawson and Stuart Elliott before making a brave save to deny former Wrexham loan striker Danny Allsopp - they kept the ball well to frustrate their opponents.

Ironically, it was a handling error by the normally confident Foster which gifted the home side their opening goal 10 minutes before the break. Stuart Green's corner brought a straightforward header from Damien Delaney and when the keeper fumbled the ball, Allsopp was on hand to score from inside the six-yard box.

Given the circumstances, Wrexham might have collapsed. Foster, though, then atoned with a fine 45th-minute save from Elliott. But when City went for the kill from the re-start, it was difficult to see a way back for Smith's patchedup side.

Allsopp, a constant menace, went close with a header that looped on to the roof of the net, Holt's fine interception of Elliott's cross snuffed out another threat and Jason Price held his head in his hands after steering an excellent opportunity straight at the on-loan Dragons keeper.

And there was an element of fortune about City's second goal on 58 minutes when Wrexham appealed in vain for offside as Price broke down the right.

His cross was met by Elliott, who headed the ball down for Allsopp to apply a crisp finish.

Game over, it seemed, but Dragons boss Smith had other ideas, sending Green on for Bennett who had struggled all afternoon, and replacing the out-of-sorts Ugarte with Sam.

Suddenly it was a different match as City, without a win in their previous six outings, elected to protect their lead. With Green keen to get forward at every opportunity and Sam eagerly probing the home back line, the two substitutes combined to give Wrexham hope in the 75th minute.

From Green's cross, a poor defensive header by Delaney saw the ball drop nicely for the Trinidad striker, who struck a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area past Myhill.

Five minutes later, City survived a goalmouth scramble, Myhill palming away an instinctive effort from Armstrong after the initial Jones shot was blocked and, as Wrexham continued to press, Pejic was unable to get a vital touch in another melee following Ferguson's free-kick.

And it was the Dragons captain who went closest to earning his side a point in added time with a superb 30-yarder that was too good for the goal-keeper but flew agonisingly high of the top corner.

Hull City: Myhill, Stockdale, Delaney, Cort, Dawson, Price, Ashbee, Green, Elliott, Allsopp, Barmby. Subs not used: Duke, Lewis, Hessenthaler, Edge, Facey.

Wrexham: Foster, Pejic, Lawrence, Holt, Bennett (Green 63), Crowell, Ferguson, Jones, Smith, Armstrong, Ugarte (Sam 65). Subs not used: Done, Harrison, Evans.

Referee: Mark Warren. Attendance: 15,995.