Wanderers extended their unbeaten League One run to four games with a first clean sheet of the Steven Schumacher era, writes Pete Oliver.
For the second time in the league this season there was nothing between the two top-six rivals as they shared a second goalless draw.
But this was a valuable point for the Whites as they again showed their fighting spirit and desire to keep moving under Schumacher.
A first shut-out since winning at Huddersfield in January – and only a second of 2025 – was enough to briefly lift Wanderers into the play-off places courtesy of the early kick-off.
They could even have won it late on but Wrexham will also point to a couple of big misses and with momentum still intact, the Whites now head into Tuesday night’s mouth-watering home game against run-away leaders Birmingham City in rude health.
Schumacher made one change to his starting line-up on the back of a fifth win in six games as Welshman Aaron Collins returned on St David’s Day to support John McAtee in Wanderers’ attack.
In an even opening neither front line got an early sight of goal as the sides sounded each other out but 23 minutes in there was a chance to Wrexham to seize the initiative when Ryan Longman delivered a cross Sam Smith headed down and then up and over from the first real chance.
Collins then fired wide at the other end before Szabi Schön wasted a chance to slip in Collins on the break as the Whites gave as good as they got.
Wales international Josh Sheehan, again captaining the side, and Schön also had efforts off target from just outside the box.
But it needed a typical Will Forrester block to stave off another Wrexham threat as he got in the way of a Seb Revan strike before Jordi Osei-Tutu almost gave Wanderers a half-time lead as he burst clear before rifling an angled drive against the crossbar.
Wanderers were very much in the hunt and eight minutes into the second half again nearly grabbed the lead.
A nice link-up between McAtee and Schön ended with Schön pulling the ball back to trigger an almighty goalmouth scramble as Alex Murphy, George Johnston and Forrester all had stabs at goal before the ball ended up in the net but via a final touch off an off-side player.
That was nothing compared with the chance Wrexham had to break the deadlock, though, as the game really opened up. Crosses into the box were always going to be a major weapon for the hosts and when Longman headed one down, Tom O’Connor skied an offer over the bar from six yards out.
Ollie Rathbone then lifted an effort of his own over the top as Wrexham craked up the pressure and with half an hour to go, Schumacher made a double change and a shift in formation as Eoin Toal joined the back line and Carlos Mendes Gomes made a welcome return to action.
Joel Randall followed shortly afterwards and he was quickly involved with a half-chance at the near post well snuffed out by George Dobson and after good work from Mendes Gomes and Collins.
And as Wanderers sensed a possible winner of their own, Osei-Tutu pulled the ball back for Mendes Gomes who lifted his shot over the top from an inviting position.
Neither side was able to locate the target as Wrexham substitute Jack Marriott was next to mis-direct an effort from a driven cross and it was the Whites who almost grabbed a dramatic late winner.
This time, Collins did work the goalkeeper and it took an excellent save low to his right from Arthur Okonkwo to deny the Whites’ top scorer who met Josh Dacres-Cogley’s headed ball through with a fine strike on the turn.
There was still to be one further moment of drama but with the last kick of the game O’Connor curled a free-kick inches wide to leave the sides deadlocked for a second time in the league this season and Wanderers deservedly taking some reward for a performance full of spirit and defensive nous.
Wanderers: Southwood; Dacres-Cogley, Forrester, Johnston, Murphy (Toal 62); Sheehan; Schön (Mendes Gomes 62), Morley, Sheehan (Thomason 87), Osei-Tutu; Collins; McAtee (Randall 73). Substitutes: Baxter, Toal, Lolos, Matete.
Booked: Osei-Tutu, Dacres-Cogley
Wrexham: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O’Connell, O’Connor; James; Longman (Barnett 73), Dobson, Rathbone (Lee 85), Revan; Smith (Marriott 78), Rodriguez (Fletcher 78). Substitutes: Howard, Scarr, McClean.
Booked: James, Dobson
Referee: Declan Bourne
Attendance: 13,284 (1,269 Wanderers)