Wrexham went into the clash with Championship leaders Boro on the back of a 1-0 defeat away to Sheffield United when Parkinson questioned his team's effort and desire.

But the Reds responded by producing a brilliant display to stun Kim Hellberg's outfit with second-half goals from George Thomason and Ollie Rathbone securing a much-needed 2-0 win.

Parkinson felt the relentless work-rate and physicality, combined with quality, was back on show as Wrexham climbed up to 16th in the table.

“It was important we put that back in place,” Parkinson said. “I’ve got to stress that it hasn’t been missing all season. We’ve had some really good performances.

“However, in that first half against Sheffield United we lacked everything we want to be as a team.

“Tonight we were very structured without the ball. The spaces were tight, so we could get up to the ball, take it off them and be physical.

"The amount of times we got up to the ball and came out in duals was exactly how we want to play as a team.

"Mine, Steve (Parkin) and the rest of staff's mantra since day one is anyone who comes to The Racecourse, they've got to know that they've been in one hell of a game and I think the Middlesbrough players know that.

"I'm just so pleased. The nuts and bolts were back where we wanted them to be and then the football came on the back of that.

"The quality of the passing was really good. I think there was a little spell straight after half-time where we gave it away a couple of times but in the main, I'd imagine our pass completion was right up there.

"But that often comes on the back of playing with an intensity without the ball and I think everybody saw that."

Thomason sustained a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw with Watford on August 22 but after missing 10 games, he made his comeback as a second half substitute at United before being handed a starting place against Boro.

Having deputised at left wing-back for Libby Cacace in the second half of last season, Thomason was back in midfield and he opened the scoring in the 70th minute from Kieffer Moore's knock-down.

"Tommo has personality in abundance, quality and a tactical understanding of the role he was given," said Parkinson.

"A great diagonal from Max (Cleworth) to Kieffer who does what he does, and then Tommo's there to shoot hard and low on a greasy surface, and it ends up in the back of the net. A big moment for the team."

Substitute Rathbone made sure of the win with a late header from Lewis O'Brien's cross.

"I'm not sure what more I can say about Ollie," said Parkinson. "The smallest man in the penalty box and when the ball comes in, he rises above everyone and produces a moment.

"That's what he's all about. He's a good player as well, but he's a moments player and it's a great goal."

O'Brien played as the number 10 behind Moore in a 3-5-1-1 system and Parkinson added: "Lewis was outstanding. He's so unlucky not to have got a goal because the ref flagged him offside.

"But he set the press off for us and when you've got a player playing that number 10 role who can run as much as he does, it lifts the whole team and you could feel that."