WREXHAM have nothing to lose, but plenty to gain, in submitting an appeal against the dismissal of Chris Llewellyn during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Bristol Rovers at the Racecourse.

The striker was shown a straight red card by referee Russell Booth in the 65th minute for an ill-advised challenge on defender Steve Elliott, but in the context of what had gone before it seemed a harsh decision that possibly was influenced by Elliott’s theatrical rolling around and the angry reaction from a couple of his Rovers’ team-mates.

And although there were no complaints afterwards from Racecourse boss Denis Smith, an automatic three-match ban for one of his most consistent performers means more unwanted problems for what promises to be a crucial couple of weeks.

Already short of available strikers, Wrexham can ill-afford to lose Llewellyn for winnable league games against Macclesfield Town and Bury, followed by a testing FA Cup first-round clash against Stevenage Borough, and it’s unlikely that any review of the referee’s verdict would result in further punishment for a player whose disciplinary record is not a cause for concern.

Fortunately for the Dragons, the sending-off proved no more than a blemish as they ended a sequence of four straight defeats against the Gas, who last tasted victory at the Racecourse way back in 1979.

Just as important for a side that had leaked 20 goals in their previous seven games was the clean sheet and Smith was justifiably pleased with the overall performance.

The icing on the cake, though, was a cool, calm finish by on-loan Middlesbrough striker Tom Craddock, whose late solo goal sealed a first three-point haul since Hereford United were beaten 1-0 more than a month ago, but the youngster was keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“In the first half I found it very different from what I’ve been used to because the pace is quicker, the players are stronger and you get less time on the ball,” he said.

“But I thought I played a lot better and helped the team more in the second half and hopefully that will stand me in good stead.

“The first goal is always the hardest one to get and hopefully this win will see us turn the corner.

“Everyone in the dressing room wanted this so badly, but we have got to do it all again next week, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

With no fewer than 11 Welshmen in Wrexham’s 16-strong squad and two in the Rovers contingent it was no surprise that Wales boss John Toshack was in the directors’ box, but there might have been a few raised eyebrows at Smith’s team selection.

Recent Wales debutant Craig Morgan was relegated to the bench to accommodate the returning Shaun Pejic while under-21 international Mike Williams was preferred ahead of Wales colleague Simon Spender, whose right-back role was filled by Ryan Valentine, another player likely to be in Toshack’s squad for the forthcoming friendly against Liechtenstein at the Racecourse next month.

Less of a surprise, given their recent form, was Wrexham’s tentative start and it needed a timely intervention from Valentine to deny debutant striker Sean Rigg a goal-scoring opportunity only four minutes into the game.

And Mark Jones reflected the team’s general demeanour when he volleyed wide a chance he might earlier in the season have hammered into the net.

Pejic angrily berated his fellow defenders for failing to close down Richard Walker, who was allowed to test Mike Ingham after carrying the ball 20 yards, and the keeper also displayed good handling in holding James Hunt’s effort as Rovers enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges.

But Valentine’s running battle with Lewis Haldane and an early booking for Danny Williams were evidence of the aggressive manner in which the home side gradually played themselves into the contest.

A little bit later some great movement and passing set up another chance for Jones, whose shot on the turn was just too high.

The midfielder’s next contribution was more fruitful midway through the first half when he charged down a clearance by Aaron Lescott, giving Llewellyn the opportunity to run on goal and the former Wales international lashed the ball into the top corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Steve Phillips no chance.

From that point on the Dragons did not look back and they pushed their opponents deep into their own half of the field for long periods.

Williams was unlucky not to double the lead in the 35th minute when his volley from 20 yards struck the base of a post.

And the same player headed a Matty Done corner just over the bar and Craddock was denied by a smart save from Phillips a minute before the break.

There was a minor scare in the 50th minute when Walker’s glancing header flashed across the face of Ingham’s goal.

But otherwise central defenders Pejic and Steve Evans were such commanding figures at the back that Rovers eventually replaced both their strikers in a bid to spark a revival.

At the same time, they were struggling to cope with Craddock, who visibly blossomed the longer the match went on.

In his eagerness to impress he ignored the unmarked Llewellyn and sliced his shot wide after breaking from the halfway line before twice in quick succession forcing saves from Phillips.

He continued to pose a threat even after his strike partner’s premature departure from the field and set up Jones, who had more time than he realised only to thump a first-time effort too high.

But fittingly Craddock was finally rewarded for his performance with a fine individual effort deep into added time.

Williams provided the pass and when he was forced wide by Lescott, the newcomer looked for support, which was not forthcoming.

Instead he cut back inside and squeezed his shot beyond Phillips into the far corner, displaying a touch of class that Rovers boss Paul Trollope – a former Wales international midfielder – could only admire.

Admitting that his side were well-beaten, he said: “Even apart from the goals, Wrexham created a few more things than we did.

“They had a little bit better quality, better crosses, better threads and better final passes.

He added: “It was the case of the same old Bristol Rovers, the side who couldn’t break down Macclesfield last week.

“We had the possession but lacked the quality

“We work on all these things in training all week.

“But it’s out there on the field that it matters and today Wrexham produced the few bits of quality needed to score the goals.”