Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Wrexham and Exeter City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Promotion-chasing Wrexham will welcome Exeter City to the Racecourse Ground for Saturday’s League One encounter.
The hosts will head into the weekend in third place in League One, while the visitors are five points further back in ninth position.
Match preview
Wrexham are sitting two points adrift of the automatic promotion places after winning eight, drawing four and losing three of their 15 league games.
Phil Parkinson‘s side put together a five-game unbeaten league run before his team fell to a narrow defeat in last Saturday’s meeting with Stockport County.
Louie Barry‘s 24th-minute effort proved enough to separate the two sides, leaving Wrexham to reflect upon another underwhelming result on the road, with their last six away league games yielding one win, two draws and two defeats.
With that in mind, the Red Dragons will be looking forward to returning to the home comforts of the Racecourse Ground, where they have won six of their seven league games this season.
In fact, Wrexham are one of two teams yet to lose a home league game this term, and they will hope to maintain that record in their first competitive meeting with Exeter since 2003.
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Exeter will be eyeing a move into the top six, with the Grecians sitting two points adrift of the playoffs after winning seven, drawing two and losing five of their 14 league matches.
Gary Caldwell‘s side have proven a tough team to beat in recent weeks, having put together a four-game unbeaten run since they lost 2-0 to Huddersfield Town on October 26.
They recorded victories over Bristol Rovers and Barnet in the EFL Trophy and FA Cup respectively, before they edged out Charlton Athletic in a home league encounter.
The Grecians winning run came to an end in their most recent fixture, playing out a goalless draw with Lincoln City at St. James’ Park.
Exeter have now recorded nine clean sheets in 14 league games this season – more than any other side in the division – and they will hope their resilient defence can negate the attacking threat posed by Wrexham.
Wrexham League One form:
Wrexham form (all competitions):
Exeter City League One form:
Exeter City form (all competitions):
Team News
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Wrexham are unable to call upon the services of Arthur Okonkwo, George Evans, James Jones, Steven Fletcher and Jack Marriott due to injury.
Midfielder Andy Cannon is set to serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend.
Ollie Rathbone is likely to replace Cannon in the middle of the park, while there may also be a starting berth for experienced striker Paul Mullin.
As for the visitors, they are set to welcome back Josh Magennis, Ilmari Niskanen and Kamari Doyle from international duty.
Midfielder Ryan Woods will have to serve a one-match ban after being sent off for two bookable offences last weekend.
Demetri Mitchell could be given more minutes off the bench after returning from a long injury layoff to feature as a substitute in Exeter’s last four matches.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Burton; Barnett, Cleworth, Scarr, O’Connor, McClean; Rathbone, Dobson, Lee; Palmer, Mullin
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; Sweeney, Crama, Purrington; McMillan, Doyle, Francis, Niskanen; Alli, Aitchison; Magennis
We say: Wrexham 2-1 Exeter City
Exeter may be enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but we think that impressive spell of form will be brought to an end when they go up against a Wrexham side that have won six of their seven home league games this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
