Stoke City had won all of their previous six away league games against Wrexham
Wrexham revived their Championship play-off hopes with a much-needed victory over strugglers Stoke City.
George Thomason gave the hosts the lead directly from a corner shortly after the half-hour mark at Stok Cae Ras.
Josh Windass scored his fourth goal in five games just 69 seconds later to double his side's lead with his 14th goal of the campaign across all competitions.
Victory moved Phil Parkinson's men to within two points of sixth-placed Hull City with just three matches remaining following the Tigers' 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.
Mark Robins' side - who failed to register a shot on target in north Wales - sit 17th having gone eight away league games without a win.
Having conceded first in each of their past five league game, Parkinson urged his players to start on the front foot against the Potters.
Aside from Thomason's long-range strike, there was little to shout about for either side during a cagey opening period.
But Wrexham took complete control shortly after the half-hour mark after Ollie Rathbone's shot was cleared off the line by Ben Pearson.
Thomason curled into the net directly from the resulting corner to give the hosts the lead - his second goal of the season.
Little more than a minute later, Windass intercepted Aaron Cresswell's under-cooked back pass before coolly slotting beyond Potters goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu - moving him above Kieffer Moore at the top of Wrexham's scoring charts this term.
Bae Junho had a shot blocked shortly after the restart, although Stoke desperately struggled to cause Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward - making his first start since sustaining a shoulder injury at Millwall on 30 August - any problems.
The Red Dragons were only too happy to protect their lead and enjoyed numerous prolonged spells on the ball - with Sam Smith unable to stretch to head Windass' delivery beyond Bazunu.
Lamine Cisse prodded against the crossbar in the final minute for Stoke as Wrexham kept a first clean sheet in six matches to close in on the top six ahead of their return to action at Oxford United on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).
It condemned Stoke to a sixth consecutive away league defeat - the Potters' worst run since 2013 when they were in the Premier League.
Analysis: Wrexham capitalise on Stoke's defensive struggles
Stoke were without defenders Ben Wilmot, Junior Tchamadeu, Makysym Talovierov and Ashley Phillips for the trip to north Wales.
And their defensive frailties were fully exposed in a 69-second spell as Wrexham combined a mix of direct play with some neat build-up throughout to cause the Potters' makeshift backline plenty of problems.
Goalkeeper Bazunu did not cover himself in glory for Wrexham's opener, and the same applied to captain Cresswell for the home side's second.
Their most potent attacking threat, Sorba Thomas - who has 10 goals and 10 assists in the Championship this season - endured a tough afternoon, albeit out of position at right-back.
It all ensured Wrexham were able to end their three-game winless run and reignite their bid to reach the top six. It was done in remarkably composed fashion too.
Having been serious play-off contenders after recovering from their slow start to the Championship season, Parkinson was determined to ensure his side did not hand a play-off spot to any of their rivals. They had to be made to work for it.
In beating Stoke, Wrexham achieved just that while also ensuring they still have a real chance of extending their season themselves as the likes of Hull and Middlesbrough - who they host on the final day of the campaign - remain firmly in their sights.
Post-match reaction
Parkinson: 'I want us to take this fight to the last minute of the last game'
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:
"It was important for us today, it's not often we've come into games on the back of two defeats.
"We had to respond with a strong team performance and I thought that's what we did."
Stoke City boss Mark Robins:
"There was nothing really in it. It wasn't a great game to start with, the ball was turning over plenty, but we didn't look under any real threat.
"There wasn't a great deal in it apart from two ridiculous minutes.
"But before it, we weren't winning tackles, certain players were drifting in the game.
"There's a lot of things that are wrong, that are poor, and need sorting out."
Robins: ‘The goals we gave away were just hideous’
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