WREXHAM ended a run of four successive defeats by beating lowly Sutton United 2-1 at Gander Green Lane.

Three of those losses had come in League Two but the Reds returned to winning ways and got the promotion push back on track with a welcome three points.

It was also the first ever league win for Wrexham at Sutton's ground and Phil Parkinson's men are up to fourth in the table, six points behind leaders Stockport County with a game in hand.

Wrexham have also played less matches than second placed Mansfield and Crewe in third, who beat Stockport, but the Reds need to build on this victory against second bottom Sutton who put up a real fight.

Sutton had their moments in the first-half but Wrexham took the lead in added time through recalled centre-back Will Boyle.

Although the U's equalised and had more chances, Elliot Lee got the winner with five minutes remaining to end the barren run.

Parkinson made four changes from the side that started Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Bradford which continued the poor run of form.

Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott, who have made two substitute appearances since joining Wrexham on transfer deadline day, were both handed their full debuts.

Bolton took over from Ryan Barnett at right wing-back while Marriott replaced Paul Mullin in attack.

The other two chances were in the centre-back positions where Max Cleworth and Boyle - available after serving a three-man ban - came in for Aaron Hayden and Ben Tozer who dropped out of the squad.

Both teams cancelled each other in the early exchanges but Sutton had the first chance in the 11th minute.

Former Wrexham loanee Omari Patrick ran at goal and unleashed a shot that was well saved by Arthur Okonkwo who did well to deny Harry Smith with his follow-up.

The resulting corner was taken short and ended with Charlie Lakin hitting the top of the crossbar.

With Sutton getting into better positions, another Lakin effort was comfortably saved by Okonkwo before Wrexham finally created an opportunity after 27 minutes.

James McClean - captain for the night in the absence of Tozer, and with Luke Young and Mullin on the bench - threaded a superb through-ball to Marriott who fired wide from inside the area with just keeper Dean Bouzanis to beat.

But Sutton were putting Wrexham under more pressure and the U's came close to breaking the deadlock when Harry Beautyman sent in a free-kick and Joe Kizzi headed over from inside the area.

Back came Wrexham and Lee persevered in the area and got the better of a defender but his shot was blocked for a corner, but Wrexham took the lead in first-half injury-time.

Bolton made a run and his pass was helped on by Steven Fletcher to Boyle who slotted past Bouzanis.

However, Sutton were almost back on level terms when the second half kicked off.

Nino Adom-Malaki tried his luck from an acute angle and brought a great save out of Okonkwo who tipped the ball onto the bar and Wrexham managed to clear the danger.

With Sutton continuing to press, the home side then had strong claims for handball when Kizzi's effort struck McClean in the area but a penalty wasn't given.

Craig Eastmond only just headed over the bar from a corner as Wrexham, needing a second goal to give them some daylight, were given a let-off and George Evans hobbled off in the 64th minute with Young coming on in his place.

Parkinson also made a double change in attack with Ollie Palmer and Mullin replacing Fletcher and Marriott but Sutton equalised in the 76th minute.

Lee committed a foul just outside the area and Lakin took the free-kick which deflected off the wall and wrong-footed Okonkwo as Wrexham were pegged back.

Wrexham responded with Mullin heading against the bar and following a decent move, Palmer brought a superb save out of Bouzanis.

That was much better from Wrexham who were back in the lead with five minutes to go when the ball fell to Lee in the area and the playmaker fired past Bouzanis.

Okonkwo saved from Lakin in added time while Lee was denied by keeper but Wrexham had done enough.

Sutton United (4-2-3-1): Bouzanis; Jackson, Kizzi, Goodliffe, Adom-Malaki (Hart 87); Lakin, Beautyman (Eastmond 45); Moore (Duke-McKenna 71), Sanderson (Angol 87), Patrick; Smith. Subs not used: Arnold, Sowunmi, John.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Bolton (Mendy 97), Cleworth, O'Connell, Boyle, McClean; Cannon, Evans (Young 64), Lee; Fletcher (Palmer 71), Marriott (Mullin 71). Subs not used: Howard, Tunnicliffe, Barnett.

Attendance: 4,831 (933 from Wrexham).