Wrexham could potentially clinch automatic promotion from League Two when they host Forest Green Rovers on Saturday at the Racecourse Ground.
Following their convincing 4-1 victory over Crawley Town on Wednesday, the Red Dragons are second in League Two, three points above Mansfield Town, who defeated Rovers 1-0, keeping the side from Nailsworth at the bottom of the table.
Match preview
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A second successive domestic triumph has the Robins very close to earning back-to-back promotions in the EFL pyramid.
Two more victories would assure Phil Parkinson's men a place in League One next season for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign, and they could even secure a top-three spot this weekend if results go their way.
With leaders Stockport County on the brink of promotion too, Wrexham could also rubber-stamp their place in the third tier if they beat Forest Green and both MK Dons and Barrow drop points in their games.
Wrexham have three matches remaining in League Two this season, two of which take place at the Racecourse Ground, where the Welsh side have collected over 60% of their domestic points in 2023-24 (48 of 79).
Wednesday marked the fourth successive time that Wrexham went on to win a match in this competition despite having less than 45% of the possession, as this team have been deadly on the counter, scoring 11 times on those four occasions.
Another victory this weekend would not only potentially seal promotion, but it would also equal their longest winning run in League Two this season (three matches).
This weekend will mark the first time they welcome Rovers to the Racecourse Ground for a League Two affair, with the Red Dragons unbeaten in their last five matches against them in all competitions.
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From one side seeking another Hollywood ending, we have Forest Green, who are simply hoping to avoid another Shakespearean tragedy.
While two wins would move Wrexham into League One, two defeats for the Green in their final three domestic contests would likely ensure they are relegated for a second successive campaign, currently trailing Sutton United by three points and with an inferior goal difference (-30).
Their chances of remaining in League Two beyond this season may appear bleak at the moment, but Steve Cotterill's men were unlucky to walk away with nothing against Mansfield Town, forcing a pair of huge saves from Christy Pym in each half while also being denied a penalty for what appeared to be a handball in the Mansfield box.
As a result, they suffered their fifth defeat in their last six League Two fixtures, while this side have failed to score in each of those losses.
Playing two of their final three domestic contests on the road might not be such a bad thing, with the Green claiming 20 of their 36 points this season away from home, while three of their four victories this year have come as the visiting team.
It has been over a dozen years since they last defeated Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground (2-1 in March 2012), though Forest Green are unbeaten in their last two matches in all competitions against them, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser when the two sides met in February.
Team News
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Jacob Mendy, who was taken off in the opening half last weekend with an apparent knock, did not feature for Wrexham on Wednesday as he and Steven Fletcher were replaced in the starting 11 by Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer.
Parkinson had concerns about Paul Mullin's hamstring ahead of their midweek clash with Crawley Town, but the Robins' leading goalscorer netted twice, with Ryan Barnett and Andy Cannon also finding the back of the net.
Cotterill introduced one newcomer to the Forest Green starting 11 this week with Harvey Bunker replacing Kyle McAllister.
Christian Doidge, born in Wales, has a goal involvement in his last two matches against Wrexham in all competitions, assisting their only strike, which came courtesy of Emmanuel Osadebe, earlier this year.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, McClean; Cannon, Evans, Davies; Palmer, Mullin
Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Reyes; Thompson, Inniss, Keogh, Moore-Taylor, Robson; Osadebe, McAllister, McCann; Garrick, Doidge
We say: Wrexham 2-0 Forest Green Rovers
Although Wrexham have a knack for the dramatic, as you may expect given their Hollywood story, we believe their overall quality will overpower the Green, who have played better than their form suggests but are not as decisive in the attacking third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
