Wrexham moved to within a point of the Championship's play-off places as they defeated Derby County to clinch a fourth successive win.

Sam Smith struck his fourth goal of the campaign midway through the first half to give the Red Dragons the lead at Pride Park.

Derby levelled before half time as Ben Brereton Díaz - scorer in the 1-1 draw between the sides in September - coolly slotted beyond Arthur Okonkwo.

But Matty James' stunning strike - his first goal since April 2025 - shortly after half time earned Phil Parkinson's men a second victory in as many games in 2026.

Wrexham rise to ninth having claimed a 10th league win of the season. Derby sit 12th, six points adrift of the top six.

On the back of earning their first away league win in nine matches at Blackburn Rovers three days earlier, Wrexham played with a real confidence from the outset in Derbyshire.

Nathan Broadhead curled against the post from the edge of the box before lashing the follow-up effort over inside three minutes.

Smith then headed wide shortly before Josh Windass fired at Jacob Widell Zetterström as the Rams struggled to get a foothold in the contest.

Having weathered that early storm, John Eustace's men eventually settled and saw Bobby Clark fire wide after Rhian Brewster scuffed a shot moments earlier.

But the visitors took the lead on 25 minutes as Broadhead's chipped through ball found Smith who hooked beyond Widell Zetterström at the goalkeeper's near post from just outside the six-yard box.

Their lead lasted just nine minutes though as, after Windass lost possession, Matt Clarke fed Brereton Díaz who beat Dom Hyam before slotting beyond Okonkwo.

Broadhead spurned an opportunity to restore his side's advantage - with Patrick Agyemang then heading at Okonkwo to bring an end to what was a lively first half.

Broadhead was unable to capitalise on Widell Zetterström's sloppy pass as his long-range strike from just inside the Derby half failed to hit the target.

Wrexham did get their second goal of the afternoon a minute later though as James sumptuously curled into the top corner from almost 30 yards out to notch his first goal of the season in stunning fashion.

Okonkwo was alert to keep out Joe Ward's free-kick as Derby went in search of a second equaliser - with substitute Ollie Rathbone denied 10 minutes from time following a quieter spell.

And Wrexham held on for all three points to register four consecutive league wins for the first time in the second tier as Derby were beaten for the fifth time on home soil in the Championship this season.

Derby County boss John Eustace:

"I think we deserved at least a point, the way we started the game was not great, and going a goal down was poor.

"We grew into the first half, we scored a great goal and felt very comfortable, I thought we were very strong.

"Then we started the second half like we started the first half. We wanted to go out there, be on the front foot and we made a couple of mistakes and got punished by a fantastic goal.

"We huffed and puffed in the second half and just lacked that bit of quality in the final third to make something happen."

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson:

"The first 15, we were excellent, we had some great chances. It's exactly how we thought it would go, we had good control and they're a counter-attacking team and they've got decent pace.

"The one moment we allowed that to happen, they got back in it.

"We said to the lads at half time that if we could play in the same manner with the same quality, we would get chances."