Preston North End's reserves slumped to a 1-0 defeat to ten-man Wrexham at the QED Stadium.
Wrexham's Johnny Hunt scored the only goal of the game before midfielder Hedi Taboubi was sent off for two bookings in the space of a minute early in the second half.
Reserves manager David Unsworth chose to play with Stephen Elliott as a lone striker but Preston struggled to create any clear-cut chances against an organised Wrexham defence.
Preston began the game on the back foot; Wrexham's pacey full-back Sam Williamson bursting through two North End players and shooting narrowly over after just five minutes.
Midfielder Darren Carter had North End's first shot on target with ten minutes gone when his ambitious long-range free kick was easily caught by 'keeper Chris Maxwell.
Constant Wrexham pressure restricted Preston's chances, but the home side came close to going in front when Carter sent a bending cross into the box, but front man Elliott could not connect with his diving header. The pair combined again minutes later, with Carter latching onto a ball from Elliott with his back to goal and shooting on the turn to force a very smart save from the 'keeper.
Wrexham had a penalty shout turned down when midfielder Hunt went down rather easily under a challenge from Veliche Shumulikoski. Preston 'keeper Wayne Henderson then made the save of the game, blocking Rob Pearson's shot with his feet at point blank range.
The Red Dragons had the ball in the net after 35 minutes courtesy of striker Pearson, but the referee disallowed his effort because of a foul on Liam Chilvers in the build-up.
Five minutes later the deadlock was broken when Hunt took the ball past Chilvers and Dominic Collins and slotted past Henderson to send Preston into the break trailing.
Preston came out for the second half looking resolute, and almost equalised three minutes later, Carter's free kick from wide eluding everyone and coming close to creeping in at the far post.
After 54 minutes Wrexham's Taboubi received his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Chilvers, having being booked seconds earlier for a similar challenge on Preston skipper Adam Barton.
The numerical advantage soon showed as North End began to dominate, with Elliott coming close after taking on the Wrexham defence but blasting wide.
Preston continued to throw men forward and carved open several chances but failed to take advantage.
New boy Keith Treacy came nearest to hitting the equaliser 76 minutes in when Adam Barton squared the ball to Treacy in space, but the winger's effort hit the outside of the post and crept out for a goal kick.
Desperate for goals, Unsworth brought on midfielder Tom Owens for Connor McLaughlin with ten minutes to go, forcing a formation alteration which should have put Preston on level terms in the dying seconds of the game when Adam Barton, moved to the wing, crossed a superb ball across the face of goal to an unmarked Danny Mayor, but the midfielder missed his chance to put the last kick of the game into the net.
PNE: Henderson, McLaughlin (Owens, 80), Nolan, Shumulikoski, Chilvers, Collins, Mayor, Barton (c), Elliott, Carter, Treacy. Subs: Dougan, Comrie, Proctor, Miller
WFC: Maxwell, Obeng, Williamson, Taylor, Edwards, Hunt, Jones, Taboubi, Smith (Cieslewicz, 57), Pearson (Marsh, 83), L. Moss. Subs: E. Moss, Wolfenden, Anouruo, Sakho, Brown
Report by Chris Jones
