Wrexham bolstered their grip on a Championship play-off spot with a hard-fought victory over Portsmouth at Stok Cae Ras.

Striker Sam Smith and defender Max Cleworth both netted headers in the opening half to put the hosts in control.

The visitors were much-improved in the second half and got back into the contest through Zak Swanson's deflected strike.

But the Red Dragons held on for victory to stay sixth and open up a four-point lead over seventh-placed Southampton.

Pompey stay 19th, although they are now just five points above the relegation zone.

Both sides had half chances in the early stages, with the best opening falling to George Thomason following a slick counter attack, although the Wrexham left wing-back was well denied by Nicolas Schmid.

But the hosts went ahead in the 23rd minute as Smith rose to nod Callum Doyle's curling cross back across goal and into the net.

Pompey enjoyed decent spells of possession but struggled to carry a threat as Schmid tipped Smith's thumping strike over.

And Wrexham doubled their lead from the resulting corner, as George Dobson's delivery was nodded into the net by defender Cleworth six minutes before the break.

John Mousinho's men had been looking to secure three successive away league wins for the first time since midway through their title-winning 2023-24 League One campaign.

But they ended the opening half having failed to register a shot on target after Swanson's 30-yard strike on the brink of the break sailed just over.

They were much-improved after the restart and pulled a goal back just four minutes into the second half as Swanson played a slick one-two with Regan Poole - and his subsequent shot struck Doyle before looping over the helpless Arthur Okonkwo.

Millenic Alli then had an effort blocked as Portsmouth continued to push for an equaliser - prompting Phil Parkinson to send on top scorer Kieffer Moore and Ollie Rathbone in attempt to regain some control.

After Wrexham had taken the sting out of the contest, Rathbone rifled an effort against the post before Thomason was denied by Schmid.

And the hosts managed the final stages in a professional manner to hold on for back-to-back wins and strengthen their grip on a top six spot.

Headed goals from Smith and Cleworth gave the hosts a deserved lead going into the break.

But following a blunt showing in the opening half, Mousinho's side drastically improved after the restart.

As Pompey's momentum was arguably reaching its peak, Parkinson responded by making a pair of changes which duly helped the home side regain a level of control they so desperately needed.

It once again typified the calmness and composure within Wrexham's ranks, and also the quality of the depth Parkinson has at his disposal.

It could have been a different story had the visitors managed to find an equaliser, but Wrexham and their coaching staff used their heads wisely to battle their way to yet another valuable three Championship points.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"I thought we were excellent first half. We really bossed the game.

"Second half, the deflected goal's gone in and we didn't quite get the control we wanted.

"But sometimes football is about finding a way to win and we've done that really well tonight."

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's the old cliche, a game of two halves. I thought we totally dominated the second half.

"Off the back of a third away game on the spin and against a side who run riot at home, I thought we were the much better team.

"We gave ourselves a little too big of a mountain to climb in the first half."