Wales forward Nathan Broadhead struck the first blow midway through the first half, slotting home his eighth goal of the season across all competitions from Callum Doyle’s throughball.
The Swans dominated possession for long periods and had seen home goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo deny Championship top scorer Zan Vipotnik from a one-on-one position earlier on.
Vitor Matos’ side thought they should have had a penalty midway through the second-half with midfielder Goncalo Franco going down in the penalty area after being bumped by Dominic Hyam’s challenge, but referee Tom Neild was unmoved.
In a second half lacking quality in the final third, Doyle would seal the three points for the Dragons, leaping highest to head in George Thomason’s pinpoint left wing cross via the unfortunate Liam Cullen late on.
The win all but ends Swansea‘s slim play-off hopes as they drop to 11th position in the table – eight points off Wrexham in sixth, who also have a game in hand over their Welsh rivals.
The Swans had travelled north, looking to move to within two points of the top six after Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over struggling Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Matos chose to make two changes to his starting lineup, with Marko Stamenic and Gustavo Nunes returning in place of Jay Fulton and Eom Ji-Sung as his side looked for just a second-ever victory at the Stok Cae Ras stadium.
In a bright opening, Franco would have the game’s first chance within the Swans first foray forward. The Portuguese’s tame shot, though, would be easily saved by Okonkwo, looking to make up for his late blunder in the 2-1 defeat at the Swansea.com Stadium in November.
The hosts would also come close with Swansea stopper Lawrence Vigouroux having to be alert to claw away Broadhead’s header at the other end.
The Swans would have the game’s first clearest opening, and it fell to the usually reliable Vipotnik, the Championship’s leading marksman, in the 21st minute. The Slovenian international would latch onto Franco’s sublime through ball, but would not be able to beat Okonkwo, who would make a top save to divert the effort past the post.
It proved to be a crucial moment in the game, with the Swans emphatically punished minutes later for their lack of cutting edge to their play, with the visitors taking the lead.
Following fine work from forward Sam Smith, former Swan Lewis O’Brien, who would be excellent in the home midfield, and Doyle, the trio would combine to set up former Ipswich striker Broadhead, who showed composure to ghost past Cameron Burgess before drilling beyond Vigouroux from an acute angle.
Smith and Kabore both had chances in the final stages of the opening half but failed to hit the target as the Swans looked shell-shocked going behind at the break.
Despite the visitors controlling the possession statistics, Wrexham continued to create the better chances after the restart. Broadhead proving to be a nuisance to the Swansea defense, curling just wide after neat interplay from the Dragons midfield.
Cullen, Eom and Malick Yalcouye were all sent on by Matos prior to the hour mark as the Swans looked to add an attacking spark in the final third.
The latter almost made an immediate impact, crashing a ferocious drive just over the bar, whilst Okonkwo would be tested once more to keep out Stamenic’s thumping long-range effort.
But the points were sealed two minutes from time as Wrexham produced a rare moment of quality. Doyle’s header from Thomason’s cross flying past a stranded Vigouroux off the legs of Cullen into the back of the net.
It would be tough for the visitors who would feel they merited a point, but on the day, Wrexham would be the more clinical of the two sides to take the three points to strengthen their promotion push.
Swansea City XI
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Josh Tymon (Leo Walta 82), Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Ethan Galbraith, Goncalo Franco (Malick Yalcouye), Marko Stamenic (Melker Widell 74), Gustavo Nunes (Liam Cullen 59), Ronald (Eom Ji Sung 59), Zan Vipotnik.
Wrexham XI
Arthur Okonkwo, Max Cleworth, Dominic Hyam (captain), Callum Doyle, Issa Kabore, Zak Vyner, Lewis O’Brien, George Thomason, Oliver Rathbone, Sam Smith (Bailey Cadamarteri 85), Nathan Broadhead (Josh Windass 67).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
