Saunders marked his first home game in charge on a high note as Wrexham ran out 3-1 winners against York City at The Racecourse.

Victory came on the back of Saturday's 3-2 success at Forest Green Rovers, meaning Wrexham recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly 18 months.

Wrexham are heading in the right direction under Saunders and it is not just results that are impressing the Reds' faithful who gave the former Wales international striker a rousing reception prior to kick-off.

The Reds took the game to York in the first half and their eagerness to get the ball down and play football, making good use of their possession, was hugely entertaining.

Wrexham forced the pace and showed plenty of attacking purpose going forward.

Just as importantly, the commitment was also impressive.

Saunders has called for effort and determination from his players and they didn't disappoint.

The Reds ran their socks off, covering a lot of ground, in both halves of the pitch.

Half-time applause has not been in abundance at The Racecourse this season but the players' efforts were recognised by fans in what was Wrexham's biggest home crowd to date.

And after York missed a penalty in the second half, which turned out to be the turning point, Wrexham carved out a 2-0 lead.

Although York pegged one back, there was still time for Wrexham to extend their two goal advantage and ensure Saunders' 100 per cent record remained intact.

Saunders admitted Wrexham have got to tighten up at the back but this performance was probably as good - if not better - than the opening day 5-0 thrashing of Stevenage.

This was much more like it and Wrexham, without a game at the weekend because of international call-ups, are now up to eighth place, just six points away from leaders Crawley Town.

There is still a long way to go, and plenty of work to be done, but the signs are good.

Despite getting his reign off to a winning start at Forest Green, Saunders decided to make three changes to the starting eleven.

Saunders gave a debut to 18-year-old central midfielder Joe Allen who had only been signed on a one-month loan deal from Swansea City earlier in the day, so Levi Mackin was omitted.

Carl Tremarco returned in the left-back position so Mike Williams switched to the centre of defence, with Nat Brown missing out, and Silvio Spann, making his first appearance of the season, replaced Shaun Whalley on the right of midfield.

Wrexham were immediately putting the effort in that Saunders wants to see, with the Reds also eager to play football on the ground.

The home side's first scoring chance came on ten minutes when a Jefferson Louis header was saved by keeper Mike Ingham from Tremarco's cross after a neat move involving Andy Fleming and Marc Williams.

Spann also got the better of left-back Mark Robinson and his cross into the danger zone was put behind for a corner, and Wes Baynes' centre was nodded down by captain Neil Taylor but Louis just failed to connect.

Wrexham continued to keep York on the back foot and Spann's 25-yard drive was tipped over the bar by former Reds' keeper Ingham.

York, having hardly ventured into Wrexham's half, saw David McGurk's headerclear the bar on 26 minutes after a rare effort on goal.

But Wrexham were immediately back on the attack and Marc Williams' low shot was saved by Ingham, and Steve Evans' 41st minute header from Baynes' corner was hacked off the line by Robinson.

Wrexham were almost caught out when Simon Russell twice dragged shots wide when well placed in the closing moments of the half but York had been second best.

It was Russell who almost opened the scoring ten minutes after the restart but keeper Gavin Ward pulled off an excellent save, while Wrexham immediately countered and Spann's angled drive from outside the area was parried away by Ingham.

York were coming back at Wrexham in the second half and they were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Fleming, who had lost possession, tracked back and hauled down Russell in the area.

However, Ward went the right way and kept out Craig Farrell's spot-kick, and he also saved the striker's follow-up.

And Wrexham capitalised on the let-off by taking the lead after 65 minutes.

Having been picked out by Allen, Spann and Marc Williams combined to pick-out the on-loan midfielder who had continued his run and he fired past Ingham.

York were reduced to ten-men after 75 minutes when substitute Richard Brodie was shown a second yellow card after a late challenge on Baynes - just seven minutes after coming on.

Marc Williams and Fleming both went close but the second goal Wrexham needed to make sure of the points came five minutes from time.

Mackin pulled the ball back from the by-line and Taylor netted his first Wrexham goal, with Ben Purkiss helping direct the ball over the line.

The Reds were denied a clean sheet in the final minute when Ben Wilkinson pulled a goal back.

However, Marc Williams restored Wrexham's two-goal advantage in the second minute of injury time when he curled the ball beyond Ingham from outside the area.

Saunders was sent to the stands for kicking the ball away on the pitch after the goal, but that was not going to spoil the Welshman's day.