Northampton suffered a 4-1 defeat against early League One high-fliers Wrexham in North Wales.

On Northampton’s first visit to the Racecourse Ground since 2006, the Cobblers fell behind to an early James McClean goal.

Cameron McGeehan equalised for Jon Brady’s side, but Jack Marriott, Elliot Lee and a second for McClean took the game away from Northampton.

While Wrexham maintained a bright start as they push for a third promotion in a row, the result saw Northampton endure a third straight defeat after losses to Mansfield and Bolton in their previous two outings.

Ahead of an enforced international break due to the postponement of their trip to Wigan scheduled for next week, the Cobblers sit 20th in the League One table, one place above the relegation zone.

Northampton started brightly against a Wrexham side who began the day with a 100% home record, with Sam Hoskins and Tarique Fosu both seeing early strikes just miss the target, the former via a deflection.

But in the 8th minute, Wrexham hit back and scored. The home side worked the ball for Ryan Barnett, whose cross picked out experienced winger McClean to head home and put the Welsh side in front.

Northampton would however hit back with an equaliser just before the half-hour mark. Fosu’s corner was flicked on by Tom Eaves into the path of McGeehan, who slid in with an equaliser.

But 11 minutes later, the Hollywood-owned Welsh side went back in front. McClean turned provider as his ball set up Marriott, who duly drilled a strike past Lee Burge to make it 2-1.

Tyler Roberts saw a chance for a second equaliser denied just after half-time, but Wrexham would instead make it 3-1.

Lee would score a similar goal to the home side’s first, with a Barnett cross again causing danger and this time Lee in the right place to head home.

A volley by McClean from another teasing Barnett cross then extended Wrexham’s lead, allowing Phil Parkinson’s side to extend their lead and confirm the three points.