Second half goals from George Thomason and Ollie Rathbone secured a thoroughly deserved and much needed win for Phil Parkinson's side.

The Reds went into the game struggling for form after losing three of their previous four league matches but they rose to the occasion against Boro.

It was a much better first-half performance by Wrexham who defended solidly and limited Middlesbrough to very little, with the Reds also playing some good football and carving out a couple of half-chances.

Wrexham continued to play well in the second period and they were rewarded with two well-taken goals to seal a welcome win.

It leaves the Reds 16th in the table heading into Saturday's home fixture against high-flying Wolves - the last before the international break - when supporters will be hoping for more of the same.

Parkinson made four changes from the side which started the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Friday night.

Max Cleworth, Ben Whiteman, George Dobson and Thomason came into the team in place of Dominic Hyam, Matty James, Ben Sheaf and Rathbone.

Cleworth and Thomason made their comebacks from long lay-offs as substitutes at Bramall Lane and earned starts as Wrexham switched to a 3-5-1-1 formation, with Lewis O'Brien playing just behind lone striker Kieffer Moore.

Sam Smith was missing with a knee injury which is set to keep the striker out for a significant period, joining Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and Libby Cacace on the sidelines.

There was a boost for the Reds with Boro striker Will Lankshear - the top scorer in the division - not involved.

Boro saw a lot of the ball in the early exchanges but the first chance fell to Wrexham when Issa Kabore's cross was cleared as far as Whiteman whose half-volley from just outside the area went wide.

Moore also fired well over before having a couple of efforts blocked as Wrexham continued to show a huge improvement on the first half display against the Blades.

Adilson Malanda saw a weak header saved by Wrexham goalkeeper Anthony Patterson but Wrexham were playing some good football and a neat move almost led to a goal.

Jacques Ekomie won the ball and drove forward before feeding Thomason whose low cross was just beyond O'Brien at the back post.

Patterson used a leg to deny Callum Brittain but Wrexham went upfield and when Kabore was dispossessed, Cleworth's powerful drive was turned away by keeper Radek Vitek.

It remained goalless at the break but Wrexham had a goal disallowed 30 seconds into the second half.

Moore's shot was parried by Vitek and O'Brien converted the follow-up, but he was ruled to be in an offside position.

Wrexham were on the front foot and well on top but there was a let-off when Patterson's poor clearance went to Amario Cozier-Duberry who was unable to hit the target with the keeper off his line.

But the Reds had been playing well and took a deserved lead in the 70th minute.

Cleworth's cross was nodded down by Moore and Thomason's low drive found the net from 20 yards.

There was a chance for Boro when Callum Doyle lost the ball and Jeremy Sarmiento fired into sidenetting but Wrexham made it 2-0 on 84 minutes.

O'Brien crossed from the right and substitute Rathbone headed past Vitek, and that completed a good night'w work.

Wrexham: (3-5-1-1): Patterson; Cleworth, Worrall, Doyle; Kabore, Dobson (Sheaf 83), Whiteman, Thomason (Rathbone 77), Ekomie; O'Brien; Moore. Subs not used: Ward, Hyam, Vyner, Imray, Longman, James, Cadamarteri.

Middlesbrough (3-4-2-1): Vitek; Ayling (Arfsten 60), Phillips, Malanda; Brittain, Morris, Berhalter (Peart-Harris 60), Neto Borges (Strelec 71); Cozier-Duberry, Conway (Sarmiento 77); Joseph (McGree 60). Subs not used: Brynn, Byram, Strelec, Barron, Castledine.

Attendance: 10,532 (1,287 from Middlesborough).