Wrexham defeated strugglers Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park to seal a third successive victory and close in on the Championship play-off places.

The visitors took the lead early on as Sam Smith drilled beyond Aynsley Pears for his second league goal of the campaign.

Ollie Rathbone then bagged his third goal in five outings in stunning fashion before the break to double Wrexham's advantage.

Albeit with the remainder of the division due to play later in the day, victory - Wrexham's first in nine away league games - lifted Phil Parkinson's men to eighth and within a point of the top six.

Blackburn sit 19th having won just once in their past nine league outings.

Wrexham were without their two top scorers, Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass, because of injury, but they needed just 11 minutes to take the lead in Lancashire.

Matty James' lofted ball upfield floated over Sean McLoughlin and into the path of Smith - making just his second league start of the campaign - whose left-footed strike beat Pears at the near post.

Just minutes later, McLoughlin produced a crucial last-ditch challenge to prevent Rathbone - on his first Championship start in 2025-26 - from hitting the target from close range as Blackburn looked nervy.

Wrexham's press continued to cause problems as Smith was then unable to stretch to guide Ryan Longman's deep cross into the net.

Blackburn's lacklustre showing was typified when Todd Cantwell drilled a free-kick into the Wrexham wall before scuffing his follow-up effort over the crossbar.

And Rovers fell 2-0 behind as Dan Scarr's header from James' free-kick looped into path of Rathbone who sumptuously volleyed beyond Pears in the 38th minute.

Even when Valerien Ismael's side did get into threatening positions, they were met by a stubborn Wrexham defence - as evidenced when Smith blocked Sondre Tronstad's shot late on in the opening half.

Blackburn's best opening fell to Moussa Baradji in the 56th minute, although former Rovers defender Dom Hyam got a vital touch on the midfielder's strike as it hit the underside of Wrexham's crossbar.

The Red Dragons very nearly made it 3-0 a minute later as Smith teed up Lewis O'Brien who was well denied by Pears.

The hosts registered their first attempt on target in the 86th minute as Baradji's weak header was easily gathered by Arthur Okonkwo.

But the Welsh side saw out the latter stages with minimal fuss to keep a first clean sheet in eight games and bring an end to Blackburn's three-game unbeaten run.

He recently admitted to feeling like the "forgotten man" upon returning from injury.

But Rathbone delivered an emphatic reminder of his immense qualities with a barnstorming display against Blackburn.

The midfielder was regularly afforded time and space on the ball and excellently combined guile and class with endeavour.

He won more duels and possession than any other Wrexham player, while his three interceptions and four tackles were also the best in the Red Dragons' ranks.

Even more remarkably, his three league goals this season have come at a rate of a goal every 42.7 minutes, such has been his lack of game time due to injury.

Smith can also be immensely pleased with his efforts at Ewood Park.

Wrexham were without two forward summer signings in Kieffer Moore and Ryan Hardie, but Smith led the line admirably and will have given Phil Parkinson plenty to ponder with his showing against Rovers.

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael:

"It's another setback in terms of the result. I can't complain about the boys, they tried to go again, it was just a lack of energy today.

"We lost the game in the first half. We conceded the first goal, we can avoid it. The second goal is a great shot.

"We tried to find some energy for the second half and it was much better. We lost two players again today, and it's clear we've touched the limit with the squad."

Wrexham assistant boss Steve Parkin:

"In the context of where we are in the season, it's been a great week.

"The away form has just wavered a bit, and the gaffer made a point of saying that we need to get back on track away from home and we did it quite convincingly."