Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League Two clash between Wrexham and Accrington Stanley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Wrexham and Accrington Stanley clash at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday afternoon in a game that could have a huge effect on the current battle for promotion.
The home side are currently fourth in the table but are just three points behind league leaders Mansfield Town, while the visitors have an outside chance of making the playoff spots as they sit five points behind seventh-placed Walsall.
Match preview
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After being promoted as champions from the National League last campaign, Wrexham have put up an incredible display so far in their first season back in the Football League since 2007-08.
A slight blip in recent weeks, which has seen Wrexham win just two of their last eight league games, has resulted in the Red Dragons dropping out of the automatic promotion spots and into fourth place.
However, they still find themselves firmly in the running for the title as they are just three points behind league leaders Mansfield Town.
They will have to find form again between now and the end of the season if they wish to get back-to-back promotions, but matters remain in their own hands given that they are still to play all three of the teams currently above them.
Star forwards Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee will need to return to goalscoring form if they are to revert to their winning ways, as the Red Dragons’ top scorers have only scored four between them since the turn of the year.
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Accrington Stanley have gone through a tough period of their own since beating Wrexham back in November, plummeting from seventh in the table to 15th coming into this game.
Similarly to Wrexham, though, they are still very much in the race for their objectives as they trail seventh-placed Walsall by only five points.
Just one win in their last six games leaves them in a poor run of form heading into this fixture, and a win is likely to be crucial to keep any promotion dreams alive.
While Accrington Stanley may be struggling of late, top scorer Jack Nolan has seemingly hit form in recent matches. The attacking midfielder has scored 12 this season and three of those have come in his last five appearances.
Accrington Stanley’s prospects of securing a victory in this match are, therefore, expected to hinge on Nolan’s influence.
Wrexham League Two form:
Accrington Stanley League Two form:
Team News
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Wrexham have suffered injuries to some of their key men in recent weeks and will be without four players heading into this one.
Injuries to George Evans and James Jones leave Phil Parkinson having to play an unfamiliar lineup in midfield.
Eoghan O’Connell went off with a calf injury in Wrexham’s last game, joining fellow defender Thomas O’Connor in the treatment room.
Accrington Stanley will also be missing multiple players in this one.
Brad Hills sits out the third game of his four-match suspension having received a straight red card against Colchester United.
Goalkeeper Toby Savin has been out since September with a shoulder injury, leaving Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek to start in goal.
John Coleman is hoping to have Shaun Whalley and Alex Henderson available but both remain as doubts.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Hayden, Tozer, Cleworth, McClean; Cannon, Young, Lee; Mullin, Fletcher
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Vitek; O’Brien, Mellor, Gubbins, Shipley; Martin, Woods; Adedoyin, Leigh, Nolan; Bickerstaff
We say: Wrexham 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Both teams head into this fixture in rather shaky form, but given Wrexham’s impressive record at the Racecourse Ground this season, with no team taking more points at home than Wrexham so far this campaign, we expect them to emerge victorious.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.