WREXHAM remain third in League One after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win against Mansfield Town in their top of the table clash at The Racecourse.

Ryan Barnett's first-half goal sealed victory over fourth placed Mansfield, who clinched automatic promotion from League Two last season alongside the Reds, in the match which kicked-off at lunchtime.

It meant Phil Parkinson's side closed the gap on leaders Wycombe Wanderers and second placed Birmingham City - both in action at 3pm - to one point.

Parkinson made three changes from the side that started the FA Cup first round defeat at Harrogate Town the previous weekend.

Dan Scarr returned to the heart of defence in place of Eoghan O'Connell and James McClean came in at left wing-back for Sebastian Revan, meaning the Reds' captain has started every league game this season.

The other change was in midfield when Elliot Lee was preferred to Ollie Rathbone.

Wrexham were given an early let-off when George Dobson gifted the ball to Will Evans whose shot was saved by Arthur Okonkwo.

However, the Reds took the lead in the sixth minute.

Barnett got the ball outside the area and he ran at goal, beating a player before finding the bottom corner from just outside the area.

Evans failed to hit the target with another effort for the Stags and Lee Gregory headed wide from Aaron Lewis' free-kick.

Mansfield were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Christy Pym was forced off with a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by Scott Flinders.

But it was the Stags creating chances and Evans was denied by Okonkwo after racing onto a ball over the top.

Wrexham responded with Ollie Palmer finding Mullin who got the ball under control but his curling effort fell wide, and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Lee was unable to test Flinders with the first opportunity of the second half while Wrexham almost doubled their advantage when Andy Cannon fed Barnett who delivered a brilliant cross but Mullin failed to get good contact on his scissor kick and the chance goes begging.

Dobson also fired wide as Wrexham pressed for a vital second goal and Lee only just cleared the bar from Mullin's pull-back.

But Mansfield were far from done and Gregory struck the crossbar after Wrexham struggled to clear their lines and Okonkwo got down low to deny Evans with a superb save, and Lewis' follow-up was deflected behind.

Wrexham responded with Palmer heading wide from Mullin's cross and there was an even better opening when Lee played a through-ball to Mullin who shot wide with only Flinders to beat.

It was nearly 2-0 with seven minutes to go when Palmer's header from Barnett's cross was brilliantly saved by Flinders and the striker fired over from close range with his follow-up.

Mansfield should have equalised late on when Ben Waine somehow headed wide from Evans' cross but Wrexham held on for three points.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Cleworth, Scarr, O'Connor; Barnett, Cannon (Rathbone 68), Dobson, Lee (Mendy 81), McClean; Mullin (Bodvarsson 75), Palmer. Subs not used: Burton, O'Connell, Bolton, Faal.

Mansfield Town (4-4-2): Pym (Flinders 31); Hewitt (Bowery 85), Oshilaja, Flint, Cargill; Baccus (Boateng 57), Reed (Waine 85), Lewis (Quinn 68), Blake-Tracey (Akins 68); Evans, Gregory. Sub not used: Kilgour.

Attendance: 13,278 (1,264 from Mansfield).