Two League One promotion hopefuls will face off when Wrexham welcome Stockport County to the Racecourse Ground on Saturday.
Wrexham are currently in third place in the League One table with 71 points to their name, while the visitors are six points further back in fifth position.
Match preview
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Wrexham briefly went into the top two with a narrow win in last Saturday’s away clash against promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
Sam Smith scored the decisive to guide the Red Dragons to their third 1-0 victory in four matches, and their fifth win in six away games.
Unfortunately for Wrexham, they dropped to third place on goal difference following Wycombe’s midweek win over Rotherham United, but with the Chairboys not in action this weekend, the Red Dragons now have the chance to move back into the promotion spots with a positive result on Saturday.
Phil Parkinson‘s side will now return to the familiar surroundings of the Racecourse Ground for the first time since beating Rotherham 1-0 earlier this month, bringing an end to their four-game winless home league run.
The hosts will draw inspiration from the fact they have won their last three home meetings with Stockport, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent head-to-head home clash in April 2024.
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While Wrexham are eyeing a third consecutive promotion, Stockport are looking to move up a league for the second season in a row after winning the League Two title last season.
With six points separating them from second place, the Hatters are significant work to do in the final nine matches if they are to snatch an automatic promotion spot and avoid the lottery of the playoffs.
Dave Challinor‘s side will head into Saturday’s crucial clash in a positive mood after losing just one of their last 12 games (W8, D3).
Stockport recently played out consecutive draws against Northampton Town and Charlton Athletic, before they returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory in last Saturday’s away clash against Bolton Wanderers, courtesy of Isaac Olaofe.
The Hatters have the chance to complete a league double over Wrexham after clinching a 1-0 victory in November’s reverse fixture at Edgeley Park.
Team News
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Wrexham are expected to be without the services of Luke Bolton, Callum Burton, Andy Cannon and Ollie Palmer due to injury.
Sebastian Revan and Ryan Barnett will have to be assessed by the club’s medical staff after they sat out last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wycombe.
Defender Thomas O’Connor, who dropped to the bench last weekend could return to the lineup to feature alongside Max Cleworth and Eoghan O’Connell in the back three.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the injured trio of Nick Powell, Ben Hinchcliffe and Fraser Horsfall.
Full-back Macauley Southam-Hales is a doubt after he dropped out of the squad for the recent win over Bolton due to an injury issue.
Ibou Touray, Callum Connolly and Kyle Wootton are all pushing for starting spots after featuring as half-time substitutes last weekend.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Cleworth, O’Connell, O’Connor; Longman, Dobson, James, Rathbone, McClean; Smith, Rodriguez
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Connolly Hills, Pye; Collar, Bate, Norwood, Camps, Touray; Wootton, Oloafe
We say: Wrexham 1-1 Stockport County
Wrexham will be looking to make full use of home advantage against one of their promotion rivals, but we have to take into account that Stockport have lost just once in 12 matches, and with that in mind, we think they will do enough to hold the Red Dragons to a draw.
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