DOUBTS about Wrexham's ability to sustain their push for promotion may account in part for the Second Division's lowest attendance of the day at the Racecourse for the second occasion this month, but manager Denis Smith took a dig at the absentees following the five-goal thriller against Swindon Town

"I think the people who stayed away missed an absolutely fantastic game. It was as good a game of football as you could see and there were three great goals," he said.

"It was very difficult but I thought the lads adjusted to it and we played some very good football.

"There were little bits in it, which made it interesting in the wind, but I'm delighted with the way we performed.

"We kept the ball on the deck as much as we could and tried to play it out from the back and break.

"I thought it worked and the work involved in the goals was excellent. I was pleased with the way the lads went about their jobs."

Wrexham's victory over one of the sides also chasing a play-off spot took them to within three points of sixth place and the Dragons boss added: "I've said they are all becoming cup matches and we are getting to the stage when it's becoming interesting.

"People have obviously written us off when you look at the gate but we haven't. We are not going to lay down and we'll continue to battle until we run out of the opportunities to get there."

Smith almost purred with delight as he praised his players for the quality of their football in conditions made difficult by the gusting wind.

"Chris Llewellyn's was a well-taken goal and I thought his ball for the second was superb," he added.

"Steve Thomas has joined in with another and when Matt Crowell came on he's shown that he can shoot too. It would be difficult to find fault.

"I take the blame for the first goal because I changed things at half-time for corners against, which cost us, and possibly the big man in goal would not be happy with the second but, for a goalkeeper, that wind at times was not particularly easy."

Strikers Llewellyn and Chris Armstrong came in for particular praise.

"I thought that was the best they have played for me and that's what I was expecting when I brought them to the club at the beginning of the season," said Smith.

"I thought Chris Llewellyn's movement and everything else was good and I thought Chris Armstrong was strong and more direct and worked harder than he has been doing.

"Perhaps he's just getting into his stride because he hasn't played for three years really but I was delighted with their performances."

At the back Wrexham's first-choice defenders were also commanding. "We had the three lads at the back and when they are on form they are hard to break down," added Smith.

"Swindon's strength was possibly their front two but I always felt our lads could handle them and that's what they did.

"The Swindon pair ended up pulling wide all over the place as they tried to get away from the shackles.

"My lads also threw their bodies in the way of things, they tackled and did what they needed to do today."