Wrexham have suffered four successive defeats and badly need to start gaining momentum in 2019.
They crashed out go the Buildbase FA Trophy, losing 1-0 against Vanarama National League promotion rivals Leyton Orient at the Racecourse.
The visitors from London had a player sent off, but held on to secure a place in the next round courtesy of a Matt Harrold penalty scored just after the hour.
Wrexham have failed to score in any of their four defeats in 2019 and badly need to change their fortunes last AFC Fylde next Saturday.
đź‘Š Saturday's winning moment…#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient pic.twitter.com/SayiwBimU6
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) January 13, 2019
“We must return to basics because those basics put us where we are at the moment, which is in a really good position in the League table,” said Dragons’ assistant manager Mike Newell.
“There is never a relief when you are knocked out of a competition. It hurts when you are beat, whatever you’re doing.
“It might be a blessing in disguise, I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel like that right at the moment because we’ve lost to Orient.”
Former Spurs defender and Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh is in charge at Orient and he was delighted his team progressed to the third round, saying: “We were all disappointed by our defeat against Salford last time out, but we came to Wrexham with belief and gave chances to boys who have had to wait.
“There were enforced changes as well because of knocks or tight muscles.
“Lads who stepped in did really well, but none better than Jayden Sweeney, who has just turned 17 and did incredibly well.”
Wrexham almost took the lead when Luke Summerfield’s long-range strike came off a post, but it needed a good save by home goalkeeper Christian Dibble to deny James Alabi just before half-time.
The visitors took the lead through Harrold’s penalty after James Brophy was brought down by Mark Carrington on 63 minutes.
Dragons manager Graham Barrow the formation with Jake Lawlor, Brad Walker and Kevin Roberts forming a back three.
Mark Carrington and James Jennings were deployed as wing-backs, while up front Cole Stockton and Jason Oswell both made their home debuts.
Wrexham almost went ahead on 18 minutes, when Luke Young found Summerfield in space, and his swerving shot from distance bounced off the base of a post.
Rekeil Pyke replaced Oswell on the hour – his first home appearance back after injury – but Orient were in front just three minutes later.
James Brophy beat Carrington in the area and as the pair tussled for the ball the Wrexham man was judged to have fouled his opponent. There didn’t look a great deal in it, but Orient were awarded a penalty and Harrold coolly sent Dibble the wrong way from the spot.
Leyton Orient were down to 1o men when Myles Judd, already booked in the first-half for a rash challenge, was given a second yellow card for fouling Pyke with 11 minutes left.
There is no crisis at Wrexham just yet, but it’s important they return to winning ways fairly quickly. They remain fourth, only four points behind leaders Orient.
Promotion to the Football League remains the number one priority for Barrow’s team and they will travel to fifth-placed Lancashire club AFC Fylde knowing that, realistically, they dare not lose.
A fifth successive defeat could be disastrous.
Wrexham AFC: (3-5-2):Â Dibble, Lawlor, Walker, Roberts, Carrington (Rutherford 82), Summerfield, Wright (Tollitt 76), Young, Jennings, Stockton, Oswell (Pyke 60). Subs not used:Â Lainton, Holroyd.
Leyton Orient: (4-4-2): Brill, Judd, Expiteta (Sweeney 16), Happe, Elokobi, Maguire-Drew (Koroma 75), Lawless, Lee, Brophy (Gorman 83), Harrold, Alabi. Subs not used: Sargeant, Sotiriou.
Referee:Â Peter Gibbons (Wirral)
Attendance: 1,949 (105 away)
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Leyton Orient | 29 | 16 | 9 | 4 | +29 | 57 |
| 2 | Salford | 29 | 16 | 7 | 6 | +25 | 55 |
| 3 | Solihull M | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | +19 | 54 |
| 4 | Wrexham | 29 | 15 | 8 | 6 | +16 | 53 |
| 5 | AFC Fylde | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | +22 | 50 |