WREXHAM missed the chance to go top of League Two after losing 1-0 against Newport County in the Welsh derby at Rodney Parade.

Phil Parkinson's men started the day sitting second in the table, two points behind leaders Stockport County with a game in hand.

The Hatters' clash at Notts County was postponed because of the wintry weather so the Reds knew they would take over at the summit with a victory.

However, recalled defender Will Boyle was shown a controversial red card early in the game and Newport scored the only goal before the break to gain revenge for the 2-0 defeat to Wrexham in the reverse fixture at The Racecourse four weeks earlier.

Parkinson made four changes from the side that started the 2-0 home victory against AFC Wimbledon the previous weekend which had continued the winning start to 2024.

Ryan Barnett, Boyle, James Jones and Sam Dalby came in for Anthony Forde, Tom O'Connor, Andy Cannon and Steven Fletcher.

Forde (back), O'Connor (slight fracture in foot) and Fletcher (calf) were all missing with injuries while Cannon took a blow to the head in the success over the Dons and wasn't risked.

But there was a place on the bench for centre-back Eoghan O'Connell after recovering from injury.

Newport made a lively start and put Wrexham under early pressure, although misplaced passes weren't helping the Reds' cause.

With the Exiles on top, Boyle made a vial challenge in the area to deny Graham Coughlan's men a scoring opportunity and Bryn Morris cleared the crossbar with a free-kick.

But Wrexham were left with 10 men after 18 minutes when Boyle was controversially shown a straight red card with referee Simon Mather deeming his tackle on Shane McLoughlin to be dangerous.

Parkinson responded by introducing O'Connell in place of Dalby, with Paul Mullin operating as the lone striker in a 5-3-1 system, and Wrexham had their best moment so far when Barnett ran into the area but he dragged his shot wide.

Aaron Wildig fired over the bar for County but the home side took the lead in the 34th minute.

Ryan Delaney sent in a cross from the left and Seb Palmer-Houlden found the top corner with a looping header.

Newport remained on top and Reds' goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo pulled off a superb save to keep out Morris' 20-yard drive before making a comfortable catch from Delaney's header, and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Parkinson switched to a 4-3-2 formation for the start of the second half with Barnett pushed into attack alongside Mullin.

But Wrexham had a let-off when James McClean under-hit a backpass to Okonkwo and Palmer-Houlden fired wide with only the Reds' stopper to beat.

At the other end, McClean's low drive struck a defender and Elliot Lee headed wide while Adam Lewis fired straight at Okonkwo for Newport.

Okonkwo made an even better stop when he got down low to tip Harry Charsley's effort around the post but Wrexham remained in the game and Lee's cross deflected off Will Evans but was gathered by keeper Nick Townsend.

But Wrexham were unable to find an equaliser and the Reds suffered a first defeat of the year.

Newport County (5-3-2); Townsend; McLoughlin, Clarke, Bennett, Delaney, Lewis (Bondswell 64); Morris, Wildig (Baker 73), Charsley (Waite 73); Evans, Palmer-Houlden. Subs not used: Maxted, Payne, Rai, Wood.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth (Palmer 62), Tozer, Boyle, McClean; Jones (Bickerstaff 81), Evans, Lee; Mullin, Dalby (O'Connell 23). Subs: Howard, McFadzean, McAlinden, Young.

Attendance: 9,537 (1,400 from Wrexham).