Wrexham hope to edge closer to an automatic League Two promotion spot when they host Crawley Town in a rescheduled gameweek 30 encounter at SToK Cae Ras on Tuesday.
The fixture was moved due to the home side's participation in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but it will be held this week as Phil Parkinson's men look to open a five-point lead on third-placed MK Dons.
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While Wrexham could still claim the League Two title, ending in the second spot may suffice for the ambitious club, keen to gain back-to-back promotions.
The Red Dragons secured a battling win over struggling Colchester United last time out, coming from behind to notch two goals in the final 30 minutes, with Paul Mullin scoring an 85th-minute winner against the second-bottom club.
The striker's 19th league goal of the season secured the club's third win in four games but was undoubtedly pivotal as the promotion chasers avoided consecutive games without maximum points, having lost at Doncaster Rovers.
Wrexham winning on Tuesday does not guarantee automatic promotion, but it puts them in a strong position as maximum points take them five points clear of MK Dons in third with three games remaining.
However, Parkinson's team will be wary of Mansfield Town, who are three points behind in the standings, having played a game fewer than them but with two outstanding matches.
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The Red Dragons are not assured of maximum points despite accruing more points at home (45) than all but MK Dons (46) in the division as they host in-form Crawley on Tuesday.
Scott Lindsey's men have overcome a challenging start to 2024 in which only two victories were claimed in six fixtures (three defeats), but the Red Devils have since secured eight wins from the subsequent 11 matches, losing three.
That sequence includes a four-game sequence of wins on their travels, claiming victories at Harrogate Town (2-1), Tranmere Rovers (3-1), Newport County (4-0) and Mansfield Town (4-1).
While Mansfield are the only highly-ranked team Crawley have faced throughout the streak of away victories, Lindsey's troops must be extolled for dispatching middling sides in their aim for a playoff place.
The Red Devils' form has seen them rise to seventh, sitting in the final coveted spot, but the West Sussex club could aim higher in the final gameweeks of the 2023-24 season.
Making the playoffs will be an undoubted success for the Red Devils, who just about avoided relegation to the National League last term, ending a place and three points above danger in 22nd. Wherever they finish this term deserves plaudits.
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With Mullin scoring four times in his last four appearances, the striker is expected to lead the attack as he aims to add to his 19 league goals for Wrexham this term.
Jacob Mendy's early withdrawal against Colchester could see James McClean deputise at left wing-back, pointing to a start for Elliot Lee in midfield.
Danilo Orsi-Dadomo and Klaidi Lolos have netted in two of Crawley's last four road matches, and Lindsey could look to both players to deliver the goods on Tuesday — Orsi has 17 league goals this term, while Lolos has notched nine.
However, the last two road triumphs — 4-0 at Newport and 4-1 at Mansfield — have witnessed eight different goalscorers, thus posing a challenge to the hosts, with the visitors finding goals from multiple sources apart from Orsi and Lolos.
The Red Devils could name an unchanged side to the one that defeated Newport and Mansfield in the previous two gameweeks.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, McClean; Canon, Evans, Lee; Mullin, Fletcher
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Addai; Wright, Conroy, Maguire; Gordon, Williams, Lolos, Tsaroulla; Darcy, Kelly; Orsi
We say: Wrexham 2-2 Crawley Town
Tuesday's game is undoubtedly far from straightforward to call. The home side's ambition to end in the top two positions means you are inclined to back them, but Crawley's four-game goal-laden away winning streak causes you to err on the side of caution.
The spoils could be shared in the re-arranged match at the Racecourse Ground.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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