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Wrexham AFC
League Two | Gameweek 17
Nov 11, 2023 at 3pm UK
Poolfoot Farm
Gillingham

Wrexham
2 - 0
Gillingham

Palmer (1'), Tozer (71')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Wrexham vs. Gillingham - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Wrexham and Gillingham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Wrexham will endeavour to consolidate their place in the automatic promotion places of League Two when they welcome Gillingham to the SToK Cae Ras on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams meet for the first time since May 2000 when the Red Dragons secured a slender 1-0 win on home soil.


Match preview

Wrexham defender Aaron Hayden celebrates scoring against Manchester United on July 25, 2023© Reuters

Since suffering a heavy 5-0 away defeat to League Two leaders Stockport County at the end of September, Wrexham have put together an impressive 10-game unbeaten run across all competitions, including seven victories.

The Red Dragons claimed their fourth successive win when they beat League One outfit Port Vale 2-1 on home soil in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, courtesy of second-half goals from Paul Mullin and James McClean.

Phil Parkinson's men are now preparing for four successive League Two fixtures this month, with each of their next three, including Saturday's clash with Gillingham, against teams who currently sit inside the top nine.

Thirteen points have been accumulated out of a possible 15 available for Wrexham, including three picked up in a 2-0 away win over second-placed Notts County in their last league fixture, and their terrific run has helped them climb into the top three, five points clear of Barrow sitting just outside the playoffs as well as five points behind Stockport at the summit.

Wrexham enter Saturday's contest having won five of their first eight home league games, and the SToK Cae Ras has quickly built a reputation for staging entertaining games in the fourth tier, as the Red Dragons have scored the most home goals (25) and conceded the most home goals (19) in the entire division so far this season.

Gillingham, meanwhile, have made an inconsistent start to life on the road in League Two, winning four - all by a 1-0 scoreline - and losing four of their first eight away matches, while only Tranmere Rovers (four) have scored fewer away goals than the Gills (six) so far this season.

Only two league victories have been recorded either home or away in their last eight, although new head coach Stephen Clemence is yet to take charge of the Gills in the fourth tier having begun his reign with successive cup ties.

Indeed, a 2-0 win at non-league Hereford United in the FA Cup first round last weekend, Clemence's first game in the dugout, was followed by a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Fulham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Clemence, the son of former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, had inherited a Gillingham side who currently sit ninth in League Two, just one point behind the playoffs and five points adrift of Saturday's opponents Wrexham in third.

Although Gillingham head to Wales as underdogs, a statement win over an in-form Wrexham side would certainly endear Clemence the the Gills fans and provide his new side with a much-needed confidence boost in their quest to climb back into the top seven.

Wrexham League Two form:


Wrexham form (all competitions):


Gillingham League Two form:


Gillingham form (all competitions):



Team News

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson looks on on July 26, 2023© Reuters

Wrexham boss Parkinson has confirmed that Andy Cannon's leg injury sustained in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield last weekend is not as serious as first feared, but the midfielder nevertheless joins Steven Fletcher, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Ryan Barnett, Eoghan O'Connell and Aaron Hayden on the sidelines.

Parkinson will likely revert to a similar side that beat Notts County in their last league match, with the likes of Mullin, McClean, Elliott Lee, Ben Tozer, Jacob Mendy and Arthur Okonkwo all set to return to the starting lineup.

As for Gillingham, Oli Hawkins and Ashley Nadesan are both closing in on a return from injury, but Saturday's game may come too soon for the pair.

Clemence is expected to make a number of changes to the side that lost to Fulham Under-21s in midweek, with Cheye Alexander, Conor Masterson and Scott Malone all set to return in defence, while Connor Mahoney and Macauley Bonne could be recalled in the final third.


Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Mendy, Boyle, Tozer, O'Connor, McClean; Young, Jones, Lee; Palmer, Mullin

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Turner; Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone; Mahoney, Coleman, Clarke, Jefferies; Lapslie; Bonne


SM words green background

We say: Wrexham 3-1 Gillingham

Goals have been at a premium for Gillingham away from home so far this season, but they will hope to have more joy in the final third against a leaky Wrexham backline on Saturday.

The Red Dragons should ultimately have enough quality in attack to outscore their opponents, though, en route to claiming maximum points in Wales.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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Written by
Oliver Thomas

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham38278365263989
2Wrexham40239856322478
3Wycombe WanderersWycombe392112665362975
4Charlton AthleticCharlton402191055361972
5Stockport CountyStockport402011958362271
6Bolton WanderersBolton39196146157463
7Reading391711115550562
8Huddersfield TownHuddersfield391871452391361
9Blackpool4015151062511160
10Leyton Orient391851655401559
11Barnsley40159165457-354
12Lincoln CityLincoln401411155446853
13Stevenage391310163542-749
14Peterborough UnitedPeterborough39139176166-548
15Rotherham UnitedRotherham39139174449-548
16Exeter CityExeter39139174254-1248
17Mansfield TownMansfield39138184654-847
18Wigan AthleticWigan381111163438-444
19Northampton TownNorthampton401013173859-2143
20Bristol Rovers40126224165-2442
21Burton Albion39912184156-1539
22Crawley TownCrawley4099224775-2836
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge40711223965-2632
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury3978243566-3129


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