Wrexham frustrated again! Red Dragons brutally denied by late Bristol Rovers leveller as League One promotion chasers drop points to struggling opponent for second game running

Wrexham had the lead for the majority of the clash at the Memorial Stadium as their opponents failed to break them down. Just as the game looked to be fading out, though, Rovers managed to level matters with their first shot on target to deal a blow to the Red Dragons' title hopes.

Elliott Lee broke the deadlock after 18 minutes with a simple first-time finish as he latched on to a wonderful pass from Matty James that found its way behind the Rovers defence. Unfortunately for the Red Dragons, their star midfielder had to go off later in the half with Paul Mullin taking his place.

With both teams battling the wind and rain, the football on show was hardly silky or smooth. The home side could barely get forward and didn't test Wrexham goalkeeper Mark Howard. At the other end, Ollie Palmer found himself in tough physical battles as he chased down balls but couldn't extend the lead.

Mullin had an audacious attempt to beat Howard from just outside the box with a dangerous curling effort, but he just missed the target.

Rovers had their best attack in the 65th minute when Jamie Lindsay got through but Max Cleworth's challenge put an end to the move. Then, some excellent work from Andy Cannon saw the ball find its way to Mullin, but his woeful shot flew way off target.

The visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness, though, as Ryan Barnett failed to clear from inside his own box, allowing substitute Luke Thomas to cross to Promise Omochere to head home.

That seemed to spark the Gas into life as they got forward again but a fantastic tackle from Oliver Rathbone prevented the panicking Wrexham from conceding a winner.

Having drawn with Cambridge United last week, Phil Parkinson will be frustrated by his side's collapse against another team fighting for survival in League One.

While Lee deserves the credit for providing a goal in his 36-minute long appearance, Rathbone emerged as the real hero for the Red Dragons. He had been lively the whole game but that tackle right at the end ensured his side at least escaped with a point despite crumbling in the late stages of the game.

It was some abysmal defending from Barnett that allowed Rovers to net the equaliser with their only shot on target in the entire 90 minutes, and he will feel he let his team down.

The Welsh side's next game is on December 26 against a Blackpool side sitting 10th in the table and on a three-game winning run in the league, before their clash with Stevenage later on Saturday.