Wrexham knew that nothing less than three points would do in their clash with Wigan Athletic as League One promotion edges ever closer.
Phil Parkinson continued with the tried and tested by naming an unchanged side for the sixth consecutive League One match as Jay Rodriguez and George Dobson recovered from knocks.
A frustrating first half display saw the two teams fail to muster a shot on target between them and the nervousness could be felt around the ground.
Wigan had the better of the second half and Wrexham had Arthur Okonkwo to thank for keeping them on level terms with a couple of fine stops.
Wrexham are now just a point ahead of Wycombe with four games to go as The Chairboys found a late winner to defeat Stevenage 1-0 at Adams Park.
Three winners from Wrexham’s clash with Wigan Athletic
Paul Mullin
Mullin was once again left out of the matchday squad and witnessed his side fail to muster a single shot on target in a must win game in a promotion race.
The 30-year-old striker watched the game in the stands with the away fans and his name was sung loud and proud throughout the match as his popularity with the supporters is as strong as ever.
There were queues in the stands as fans wanted a picture with their hero and with a drab performance such as the one just witnessed, it does beg the question as to why he isn’t involved with the squad.
Eoghan O’Connell
Another brilliant performance from Wrexham’s colossal centre back as he produced countless headers and clearances to preserve the club’s 22nd clean sheet of the season and stretch the unbeaten run to six.
With the attack blunt, it was important that the Red Dragons stayed switched on at the back and managed to grind out a point and O’Connell was a key part of that.
Humphrey Ker’s player of the season contender, the Irish defender has been sensational since his consistent return to the side back in February and his importance is clear for all to see.
Birmingham
It has been built as a new ‘Hollywood’ rivalry this season with the Tom Brady against Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney narrative but the draw for Wrexham against Wigan handed Birmingham a significant achievement.
Birmingham are now mathematically secured as League One champions with Wrexham now able to achieve a maximum of 94 points with the Blues currently on 95 with six games to play.
Two losers from Wrexham’s clash with Wigan Athletic
Sam Smith
Smith has been brilliant for Wrexham since his arrival in January and has often won points and matches on his own by creating and scoring goals by himself.
However, this was not his greatest afternoon and he was overpowered and isolated by a strong Wigan defence.
Smith had just five touches in the first half as he struggled to find any space and room to threaten the goal and will be disappointed not to have been able to make more of a difference in a crucial clash.
Phil Parkinson
Parkinson will know that the results for his side and Wycombe have blown this promotion race wide open as the gap is cut to just a point.
His frustration was brewing in the first half as he clashed with the officials and the opposition bench a couple of times before he eventually was booked as he prepared a triple substitution.
It isn’t a disastrous result but the Wrexham boss will be thinking that his side could have done more to secure three points and make life a little easier going into the final few weeks.