PHIL PARKINSON highlighted his team’s character and hard work as key elements of Wrexham’s 1-0 win over Mansfield.

Ryan Barnett’s superb sixth-minute goal separated two of last season’s promoted League Two clubs and ended the Reds' three-game winless run in all competitions.

Mansfield went close to an equaliser as Lee Gregory hit the bar in the second half, Arthur Okonkwo saved superbly from Will Evans and substitute Ben Waine’s header also grazed the woodwork.

Wrexham, who remain third in the table, also had chances and Parkinson said: “At times, it was tenser than I would have liked.

"But you have got to make sure you stick together and grind out the results.

“That’s what it is all about over the course of 46 games. Good teams who end up at the top of the league can win all types of matches.

“We have got to have the make-up in our team to make sure we roll up our sleeves when it is not all going our way and I think we did that.

“Mansfield are a good team and have done well on their travels. So, we had to work exceptionally hard to get the win.

“Were we at our best? No. So, sometimes you have got to dig deep and work together as a team.

“In the second half we had two of the best chances to go and extend the lead to give the scoreline a more comfortable look

“But we had to stand strong. People sometimes remember the 3-0 or 4-0 games.

“But we have had games like that where we have to roll up our sleeves and realise if we are not at our fluid best we have to stand strong.”