WREXHAM salvaged their pride with a battling and committed performance against promotion-chasing QPR at Loftus Road last night.
But two defeats on the bounce have hit their own promotion hopes at the business end of the season.
The Dragons had the best of the first half but their failure to convert any of the half-chances which came their way returned to haunt them after the break.
From the restart the home side were like a spring tide crashing against the Dragon's rearguard and it was defender Clarke Carlisle who eventually breached the wall, much to the relief of a fiercely partisan crowd.
Racecourse boss Denis Smith made four changes from the side comprehensively beaten at Peterborough on Saturday, recalling Brian Carey and Steve Roberts after suspension, bringing Steve Thomas into midfield and giving a debut to Monday's loan signing, goalkeeper Mike Ingham.
By way of contrast Rangers were unchanged from the line-up who started Saturday's 4-1 win at Hartlepool.
Wrexham needed at steady start following their London Road disaster and the presence of the returning central defenders gave them that in front of Ingham, whose kicking was certainly impressive as he regularly launched the ball 70 yards or more.
And it was the visitors who fashioned the better of the few chances that emerged in a tense and fiercely contested opening 45 minutes.
Carey didn't know much about Marc Bircham's seventh-minute effort which hit him full in the face but thereafter Wrexham looked positive going forward.
In the 18th minute Chris Llewellyn found room on the right for an early centre and Chris Armstrong's spectacular overhead kick was only a couple of feet wide of the goal.
Two minutes later the first corner of the game was taken by Darren Ferguson and giant Trinidadian defender Dennis Lawrence rose highest to head over the bar.
Even the first meaningful save of the match was produced in the Rangers goal, Lee Camp going down smartly at his near post to parry Jim Whitley's shot from another good Llewellyn delivery.
For all their flair and effort the home side rarely got up a head of steam and even two successive corners failed to dent Wrexham's composure at the back.
Carlos Edwards had an opportunity to run at the Rangers defence but he was shepherded away from the penalty area by the commanding Arthur Gnohere.
Another break by the visitors provided an opening for Armstrong, whose header lacked purpose, and Thomas then saw his long-range effort held by Camp.
The home side pressed again as half time approached but a couple of corners and a Martin Rowlands free-kick on the edge of the area were dealt with just as competently as the danger had all evening.
Wrexham continued to frustrate their opponents despite the best efforts of the home crowd to lift their favourites but their defensive efforts were looking more ragged and laboured.
When the Dragons did have the ball there was no outlet for them up front due to the increasing pressure to station plenty of men behind the ball.
A brief respite came on the hour when Llewellyn spun away and his cross looked to be tailor made for Armstrong until Carlisle intercepted and turned the ball inches over his own crossbar.
Ingham's long clearances, especially from his hands, offered the best opportunity for Wrexham to lift the siege but the pressure eventually took its toll in the 65th minute.
Wrexham were fortunate not to concede an own goal when Roberts turned a Rowlands' cross behind and then from the flag-kick delivered by the former Brentford man, Carlisle forced his way through the ruck of bodies to beat the Wrexham keeper from 10 yards.
But unlike last Saturday there was no danger of a Wrexham collapse and for the first time since the break they began to test the home defence.
Defender's Carey and Roberts came to the fore as the visitors showed some urgency in seeking an equaliser but a combination of solid defensive work and a distinct lack of fortune failed to spark anything promising in the penalty area.
Striker Lee Jones came off the bench to replace Llewellyn for the final 15 minutes and it was the home side's turn to defend in depth as they dug in to protect their unbeaten home record which has run since the beginning of the season.
And Wrexham paid for their increasingly desperate attempts to salvage a point with just three minutes left when Kevin McLeod was put clear to beat Ingham with a clinical finish.
* WREXHAM'S Trinidadian contingent of Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence and Hector Sam have been called up to face Egypt in Cairo at the end of the month.
The trio will jet out to North Africa straight after the Dragons trip to Plymouth on March 27 before taking on the Egyptian national side two days later.
They will then be back in the country on Wednesday, March 31, in time for Wrexham's home match against Tranmere on the Friday night.
QPR: Camp, Forbes, Carlisle, Rose (Thorpe, 36), Bircham, Gallen, Rowlands, Gnohere, McLeod, Furlong, Johnson. Subs: Palmer, Pacquette, Bean, Chureton.
WREXHAM: Ingham, Whitley (Crowell 83), Roberts, Carey, Lawrence, C Edwards, Armstrong, Ferguson, Llewellyn (Jones 75), P Edwards, Thomas. Subs: Whitfield, Homes, Pejic. BOOKING: Jones
REFEREE: Steve Tomlin
ATT: 13,363
