Wrexham produced a significantly improved display to earn a morale-boosting victory over Championship leaders Middlesbrough at the Racecourse Ground.

The Red Dragons were well below par against Sheffield United last time out but struck twice in the second half through George Thomason and substitute Ollie Rathbone to earn a crucial win.

It was just a fourth league success of the campaign for Phil Parkinson's side, but one that lifted the Welsh side - who kept a first clean sheet in nine matches - up to 16th.

Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough - who were without the league's top scorer Will Lankshear - remain two points clear at the top of the table, despite seeing their 11-game unbeaten Championship run come to an end.

Middlesbrough dominated possession early on, although the first chance fell to Wrexham as Ben Whiteman drilled wide from about 25 yards out.

Adilson Malanda and Callum Brittain had efforts either side of George Thomason's low drilled shot as the contest briefly came to life after a low key start.

The hosts were significantly improved on the back of their lacklustre showing at Sheffield United five days earlier - with Max Cleworth forcing Radek Vitek into a smart save late on in the opening half.

The Boro goalkeeper was rescued by the offside flag just 38 seconds after the restart after he spilled Kieffer Moore's driven shot into the path of Lewis O'Brien who delicately chipped the loose ball into the net, only for the goal to be ruled out.

Following Wrexham's strong spell, Hellberg sent on Riley McGree, Max Arfsten and Myles Peart-Harris prior to the hour mark.

But the home side took the lead in fine fashion as Moore nodded into the path of Thomason who - on his first start since a 1-1 draw with Watford on 22 August - rifled the ball beyond Vitek from just outside the 18-yard box.

Jeremy Sarmiento fired into the side-netting late on as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, yet they were out of luck.

Home substitute Rathbone nodded Lewis O'Brien's floated cross into the net for the clincher as Wrexham bounced back in style following successive away defeats, inflicting just a second defeat in 14 league matches this term on Boro in the process.

Wrexham's players and coaching staff held a meeting earlier this week, one in which they watched the entirety of the first half against Sheffield United from Friday night.

Parkinson spoke about the honesty his players demonstrated in taking account for their lacklustre performance against the Blades.

A response was sorely needed, and they certainly delivered.

After a tight opening half in which they showed plenty of fight and spirit, Wrexham were the aggressors in the second half and fully deserved to go on and win the game.

It served as yet another reminder that Parkinson can never be written off at Wrexham, even when the pressure is at its highest.

As for the visitors, Lankshear's absence was sorely felt in north Wales.

The 21-year-old has 15 goals in all competitions in 16 games, which was the same number Wrexham had managed as a team all season prior to this impressive win.

Kyle Joseph and David Strelec both struggled up front when it came to causing the home side problems as Middlesbrough ended the contest having had just two shots on target.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"Tonight we were very structured without the ball. The gaps and spaces were tight so we could get up to the ball and take the ball off them and be physical.

"The amount of times we got up to the ball and came out in duels tonight was exactly how we want to play.

"Middlesbrough know they've been in a game tonight."

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg:

"It was a tough game. A lot of fighting, physical things. Very few chances in the game in general.

"I think we were OK in the first half but didn't create that much.

"I changed it a bit and tried to go for it, and then it's 1-0, they get a lot of energy... but it wasn't our night."