The Red Dragons lost their second straight home league game as they fell five points behind second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.

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Wrexham lose 2-1 to Leyton OrientBeaten in two straight home league gamesOrient five points behind their hostsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

Wrexham suffered a setback in their quest to win promotion from League One, losing 2-1 at home to in-form Leyton Orient.

Phil Parkinson's side got off to a positive start, Ollie Rathbone turning in James McClean's corner to give his side the lead after 15 minutes, but weren't able to press home their advantage.

Orient were a threat on the break all evening and fashioned an equaliser on the half-hour mark when Darren Pratley's pull-back was met by Charlie Kelman to score his 14th goal of the season.

And the east Londoners had the lead for themselves five minutes after half-time when Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley produced a moment of Premier League quality, striking a sweet volley into the net from the edge of the box after a corner was cleared.

Wrexham continued to huff and puff but struggled to create too many clear openings, despite Pratley seeing red for a second yellow card late in the game.

Orient have now won 12 of their last 15 games and are only five points behind their hosts in fifth.

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On a damaging night, Wrexham slipped five points behind second-place Wycombe Wanderers, who beat Bristol Rovers 2-0. Leaders Birmingham City have one foot in the Championship with their six-point advantage at the top of the table, while Stockport County and Orient themselves cannot be ruled out of the race to win automatic promotion.

THE MVP

The outstanding moment of the night was undoubtedly delivered by Donley, the Leyton Orient attacking midfielder who has shone all season on loan from Tottenham and did so again at the Racecourse Ground. Donley's sumptuous volley after 50 minutes was enough to win his side a huge three points, while it further enhanced his reputation for scoring spectacular goals after his halfway-line effort against Manchester City in the FA Cup last week.

Getty Images SportTHE BIG LOSER

It was a quiet night for Wrexham's forward players, in particularly Jay Rodriguez, who is yet to score for his new side since joining from Burnley in January. The former England international did not threaten and was substituted after 65 minutes as Parkinson searched for a way back into the game.