In a match that takes place in League Two on Tuesday night, Wrexham, looking to increase their hopes of promotion, will host an ineffective Harrogate Town team at The Racecourse Ground.
On Saturday afternoon, the Red Dragons triumphed at Morecambe after a thrilling comeback, while the Sulphurites failed to get any points from their match against Crawley Town at home.
With back-to-back victories against Accrington Stanley and Morecambe at the beginning of March, Wrexham has given themselves a significant advantage in the League Two promotion race. The latter victory came on Saturday afternoon at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, where a comeback was necessary for the visitors.
The Red Dragons’ seasoned leaders ultimately prevailed, with James McClean, Paul Mullin, and Steven Fletcher all scoring as the Shrimps, going against the script against the championship contenders, jumped off to an early lead thanks to a strike from Gerard Garner.
Wrexham’s hopes of winning back-to-back automatic promotions were in jeopardy after a run of two victories in eight League Two games between January and the end of February. However, six points since the beginning of the month have allowed Phil Parkinson’s team to maintain third place in the fourth-tier standings, two points ahead of fourth-place MK Dons, who have played one more game.
Elliot Lee is lighting up the fourth tier from the engine room. The midfielder has scored an incredible 15 goals in 36 League Two games, which is three more than he scored in the entire National League season prior. Lee has played in the Football League while at teams like Luton Town and Oxford United.
Having won only six of their 19 away games this season, Wrexham’s poor road performance is preventing them from taking the league by storm. The Red Dragons have the greatest home record in the division, having amassed 41 points from just 17 league games played at The Racecourse Ground.
After going six games without a win, which was compounded by a home loss to fellow midtable team Crawley over the weekend, Harrogate’s hopes of finishing in the top seven this season have all but vanished. As a result, Tuesday’s visitors have only managed two points in their previous six games.
George Thomson’s eleventh goal of the fourth-tier campaign gave the Sulphurites a one-goal lead at the interval. However, Scott Lindsay’s team significantly improved in the second half, with goals from Harry Forster and Klaidi Lolos capping the comeback.
Even optimistic Harrogate supporters would not have predicted a major push for promotion this season after two consecutive seasons of finishing in 19th position; nonetheless, they might still secure a top-half finish, with
The 31-year-old Thompson joined Harrogate in the summer of 2017 as the team was preparing for a National League North season. Over the course of the last seven years, he has experienced a stratospheric rise at the Sulphurites, leading the goalscoring charts with 11 league strikes.
Weaver’s team would be competing with teams like Wrexham at the top of the table if the division was solely focused on away games. The Harrogate have amassed 29 points from 18 away games in League Two this season, a total that only league leaders Mansfield Town (33) can surpass.
In the impressive second half display, Wrexham restricted Morecambe to little opportunities. William Boyle, Eoghan O’Connell, and Max Cleworth should start in the back three for Wrexham on Tuesday night.
After scoring off the bench the previous game, former Sunderland striker Fletcher may be able to start, while former Derby County player Jack Marriott will also be vying for a spot in the starting lineup.
Defensor Tom O’Connor has resumed first-team training after missing time due to a foot ailment. He may play in the upcoming games.
Following his substitution immediately following Crawley’s equaliser, Stephen Dooley might be moved to the bench in Wales in place of Jack Levi Sutton.
A number of players, including Josh March, Joe Mattock, and Tom Bloxham, a Blackburn Rovers loanee, are fighting for Sulphurites to start on Tuesday night.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O’Connell, Boyle, Mendy; McClean, Cannon, Lee; Fletcher, Mullin
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Abu, O’Connor, Burrell, Foulds; Sutton, Cornelius, Thomson, Daly, Odoh; Muldoon
