DENIS SMITH today hailed his terrific threesome.

The Reds' boss saw his side recover from a 1-0 interval deficit to fire four second half goals and send Mansfield Town crashing to a 4-1 defeat at The Racecourse last night.

It was a far from convincing performance from Wrexham who were indebted to goalkeeper Mike Ingham for keeping them in the match as Mansfield created a host of opportunities in a game in which they were a continual threat going forward.

Wrexham had fewer opportunities despite the endeavours of forwards Lee McEvilly and Jon Walters, but they took their chances, and Smith was delighted with his strikeforce and keeper Ingham.

"I said at half-time the front two are looking lively and if we can get more balls to them they will give they more problems," said Smith.

"My goalkeeper kept us in it so we have performances at both ends. But in between we have got to look and say that wasn't - even though it was a 4-1 win - one of our better performances this season.

"Some of the players played extremely well. I thought Lee McEvilly looked a handful all the way through until his injury, Jon Walters was superb and Mike Ingham did very well too, so some players can walk away with their heads held high.

"Last night, what was good? My goalkeeper, the front two and some excellent finishing. The front two are starting to look as if they are getting the knack of being at this club and what they want and I have been delighted with them."

Danny Williams - who had earlier conceded the penalty from which Mansfield had taken a first half lead - McEvilly, Walters and Mark Jones got the goals which propelled Wrexham up to seventh in the League Two table.

And Smith was delighted with the way the scorers took their goals, particularly leading scorer Jones whose cool chip over Mansfield goalkeeper Kevin Pressman took the midfielder's tally for the season to nine.

"They were super goals, great finishes. We work on things and create opportunities but last night we stuck our chances away well and that is the pleasing point," said Smith.

"We know Mark Jones has got all the ability in the world. At times he disappears from games but when he does appear it doesn't half brighten the game up."

Smith was delighted to see the Reds play below their best but come away with the result, knowing his side have performed better in other matches but not had the rewards they deserved.

But the Reds' boss, who will hope for a similar result when Notts County visit The Racecourse on Saturday, knows a better performance is needed, and added: "Some of our performances have been outstanding and we have not got the results.

"I told the lads at half time, the first half was possibly as bad as we've played for a couple of years. That's not taking anything off Mansfield, I think they did the job on us - they outworked and outfought us - and I was happy to come in at half-time only 1-0 down as the game could have been over.

"I would be quite happy if we go through the season playing badly and winning 4-1 but you won't. You need to perform to win and we have been performing well."

With the injury situation at The Racecourse improving all the time, Smith only had one casualty following the Mansfield victory - fans' favourite McEvilly.

McEvilly was replaced by Dean Bennett six minutes from time after damaging his back, but Smith does not anticipate the problem ruling his in-form striker out of Saturday's clash against the Magpies.

A summer signing from Accrington Stanley, McEvilly has seven goals this season and has scored six in his last six games.