As they fight for automatic promotion in League One, Wrexham will travel to take on Exeter City at St James Park on Saturday.
The Grecians will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games this weekend, while the Red Dragons will be aiming to make it three league wins on the bounce for the first time this year.
Match preview
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Gary Caldwell‘s Exeter have not tasted defeat throughout a busy March, though they have dropped eight points after playing out four draws and two wins so far this month.
Most recently, the Grecians earned a point in a 0-0 stalemate on the road to Lincoln City, and despite not taking maximum points, the boss will be pleased that his team recorded their fourth clean sheet from their last five games.
This represents a significant defensive improvement considering that Caldwell’s side had only managed to produce one clean sheet between the end of November and the beginning of March.
That draw with the Imps kept this weekend’s hosts in 16th ahead of Mansfield Town, and if they are able to make it three consecutive wins at home, then they could leapfrog both Peterborough United and Rotherham United by the end of the matchweek.
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Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson‘s Wrexham have won four of their six games this month, drawing one and losing the other, and are now on course for automatic promotion.
Last time out, the Red Dragons beat Stockport County 1-0 at the Racecourse Round after Jay Rodriguez pounced onto the rebound from his saved penalty to score his first goal for the club.
That victory took Parkinson’s side up to second in the table, where they are now three points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, though they remain nine points behind runaway league-leaders Birmingham City.
While Wrexham are undoubtedly back on track after a difficult spell at the start of the year, their last four wins have all been by a scoreline of 1-0, and with just four goals in their last six games, the manager may be concerned about this weekend given that his team will be up against a strong defensive unit.
On the other hand, the Red Dragons will draw confidence from the fact that they have won six of their seven most recent away games going back to mid-January, and despite their recent lack of attacking output, their defence has been in impressive form.
Should Parkinson’s men take all three points on Saturday, then they could create a six-point gap between themselves in second and the playoff spots should results elsewhere prove favourable.
Team News
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Exeter will continue with a back three of Ed Turns, Angus MacDonald and Alex Hartridge this weekend, and the trio will be protecting Joe Whitworth between the sticks once again.
Up top, strikers Demetri Mitchell and Josh Magennis will be supported by Caleb Watts from an attacking midfield position, while Jack McMillan and Ben Purrington provide width from wing-back.
As for Wrexham, Jay Rodriguez could start behind Sam Smith up front after scoring last time out, with wing-backs Ryan Longman and James McClean acting as attacking outlets on the flanks.
Midfielder George Dobson was substituted off with an injury against Stockport, but he could be available this weekend with a week between matches.
However, if he is not ready to make the XI, Elliot Lee should join Oliver Rathbone and Matty James in the centre of the park.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge; McMillan, Trevitt, Francis, Purrington; Watts; Mitchell, Magennis
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Cleworth, O’Connell, Brunt; Longman, Dobson, James, Rathbone, McClean; Rodriguez; Smith
We say: Exeter City 1-1 Wrexham
Both of these teams have been in excellent form defensively, so expect a low-scoring game regardless of the result.
Additionally, Wrexham may have a strong away record, but they have been struggling offensively in recent weeks and are unlikely to win against a stubborn Exeter side on Saturday.
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