Wrexham will host Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, seeking three crucial points for the Red Dragons to maintain any hope of reaching the playoffs.
The North Wales side currently sits in seventh place in the Championship, four points behind play-off rivals Hull City.
Stoke City, on the other hand, are all the way down in 16th. The Potters will not tread lightly around Wrexham as they continue to battle for a top-half finish.
Match Preview
Phil Parkinson will rally his players for this crucial match against Stoke City. A defeat in this game would likely end the club’s hopes of winning promotion to the Premier League.
Although the team was only promoted last season, fans will be deeply disappointed if they miss out on the playoffs after being in contention throughout the second half of the season.
Changes will be needed against Stoke, though, as Parkinson’s side are currently going through a tough patch of form as the season approaches its final stages.
A 5-1 pumping at the StOK Cae Ras was handed to Parknson’s side by Southampton. This followed a worrying 2-0 defeat on the road to Birmingham just five days later.
Stoke City, on the other hand, will not allow Wrexham to play their preferred style of football, even though they are playing at home. Mark Robins is aiming for a top-half finish in the Championship, as the standings are close in the middle. The Potters are only three points behind Bristol City, who sit in 10th place.
The Potters have been poor away from home, with their last win coming against Norwich back in January. Robins’ side have only won three in their last 10, with all wins coming from the Bet365 Stadium.
Stoke’s last fixture ended in a 1-1 draw against 20th-placed Blackburn Rovers, as their ongoing goalscoring problems continued.
The reverse fixture favoured Stoke back in October. Robins’ side secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wrexham after a Sorba Thomas strike in the 36th minute.
Team News
Nathan Broadhead is rumoured to be pushing for a return to make the squad for Saturday’s game. After suffering a “tight hamstring”, explained Parkinson.
Wrexham will once again be without Ben Sheaf due to a minor setback during training, which delays his return to the squad after he sustained a knee injury in their 5-3 victory against Ipswich in late February.
Parkinson will also be without midfielder Zak Vyner, with Matty James expected to take his place for another game.
Vyner missed the trip to Birmingham last week because he picked up a groin injury. Parkinson stated that he was close to recovery, but maybe it was just a week too early.
Stoke City is suffering from multiple injuries in the centre-half position, leaving Bosun Lawal as the only senior central defender available for Robins on Saturday.
Ashley Phillips is serving a suspension ahead of Saturday’s match after receiving a red card in the game against Blackburn Rovers. Ben Gibson sustained a groin injury during that match and was substituted in the 24th minute. Additionally, Ben Wilmot is also unavailable, along with Maksym Talovierov, who is out due to a calf and ankle injury.
Lineups
Wrexham’s possible starting lineups:
Okonkwo, Scarr, Hyam, Doyle, Kabore, Dobson, O’Brien, Thomason, Broadhead, Windass, Moore
Stoke City’s possible starting lineups:
Bazunu, Lawal, Agina, Cresswell, Bocat, Pearson, Baker, Rak-Sakyi, Manhoef, Thomas, Cisse
