Wrexham travel to Adams Park on Saturday to take on Wycombe Wanderers in a crucial game at the top end of the League One table.
The hosts currently occupy second spot with the visitors only trailing on goal difference in the race for automatic promotion.
Match preview
© Iconsport
Wycombe Wanderers return to Adams Park on Saturday aiming to move clear of the chasing pack in the race for automatic promotion to the Championship this season.
The Chairboys have enjoyed an impressive campaign thus far, sitting in the top two since early January having earned 68 points from their 35 games, winning 19 of those and only losing five, largely thanks to their fine attacking record with no other side in the division scoring as many as their 61 goals.
They have seen their momentum slow somewhat since the mid-February appointment of Mike Dodds, though, following Matt Bloomfield's departure, having only earned nine of their 68 points in the last five attempts, albeit only losing once in a trip to runaway leaders Birmingham City.
The Chairboys quickly bounced back to winning ways by beating Burton Albion 2-0, thanks to Daniel Udoh's finish and a Jack Armer own goal, before having to settle for a 1-1 draw away at Peterborough United last weekend, as Richard Kone snatched a point with a 93rd-minute equaliser.
Now only leading third-placed Wrexham on goal difference, albeit with 11 games left to play compared to the visitors' 10, Wycombe Wanderers will hope to bounce back on Saturday and take a step towards winning automatic promotion with a crucial home victory at the weekend.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, will aim to move back into the top two for the first time since being overtaken by the Chairboys in the automatic promotion race in early January.
After winning a second consecutive promotion last season, marking their return to England's third tier for the first time since 2005, Wrexham have enjoyed another strong campaign, sitting in the top-two race throughout having amassed 68 points from their 36 matches, with only league leaders Birmingham City topping their tally of 20 victories.
Phil Parkinson's side moved level on points with Wycombe with a strong four-match run across late February and early March, culminating in back-to-back 1-0 victories away at Huddersfield Town and at home to Rotherham United last week, before visiting Reading on Tuesday with a chance to move three points ahead of Wycombe having played a game more.
The Red Dragons were unable to do so, though, leaving the Select Car Leasing Stadium empty-handed as Harvey Knibbs and Lewis Wing netted second-half goals in a 2-0 home win and the Welsh side's eighth league defeat of the season.
Still only trailing the hosts on goal difference but with a game fewer left to play, Wrexham will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways in their trip to Adams Park to return to the automatic promotion spots.
Team News
© Imago
Wycombe Wanderers will remain without midfielder Xavier Simons on Saturday, as he serves the final instalment of a three-match suspension, while Daniel Harvie is sidelined by an injury.
Given those absences, Luke Leahy and Josh Scowen will continue their midfield partnership, while January arrival Adam Reach should be given a third straight start on the left-hand side of a back four.
Richard Kone will lead the line with renewed confidence, having scored his first third-tier goal since late January last time out to move onto a league-high tally of 17 for the season.
Phil Parkinson may opt to make some alterations to his Wrexham starting XI after their midweek draw, with Callum Burton, Andy Cannon, Ollie Palmer, Luke Bolton and key midfielder George Dobson set to remain confined to the treatment room.
Elliot Lee will hope to return to the starting XI and could join Matty James and Oliver Rathbone in midfield.
He will likely lend support to the attacking partnership of January arrivals Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith, despite competition for starts up front from Modou Faal and Steven Fletcher.
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Norris; Grimmer, Low, Taylor, Reach; Scowen, Leahy; McCleary, Humphreys, Udoh; Kone
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor; Barnett, Rathbone, Lee, James, McClean; Rodriguez, Smith
We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Wrexham
We cannot quite split these sides at Adams Park and would not be surprised to see an edgy contest end level, given the stakes in the race for automatic promotion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
