Preview: Halifax Town vs. Wrexham - prediction, team news, lineups

The Red Dragons are three points clear at the top of the table, while Halifax are in 17th place, with little to play for at this stage of the league season.

Match preview

Having reached the playoffs in two of their three most recent National League campaigns, Halifax will be a little bit disappointed with how they have fared this season, and their main problem has been a lack of goals.

The Shaymen have scored just 37 in the league, the second-fewest of any side in the fifth tier, with top scorer Emmanuel Dieseruvwe netting just once in his last nine outings.

Games involving Chris Millington's side have often been very low scoring, but they have been more prolific at home, which bodes well heading into Saturday's game, defeating Wealdstone 5-0 at the Shay near the end of February.

While their league performance has been uninspiring, Halifax have gone on a great run in the FA Trophy, defeating the likes of Maidenhead, Aldershot, and most recently Altrincham to reach the final, setting up a Wembley clash against Gateshead, which will be just the second time they have ever played at the national stadium.

All hope appeared to be lost for the Shaymen against the Robins, but Millenic Alli struck late to equalise, sending the game to penalties, before Luke Summerfield, Jamie Stott and Dieseruvwe converted in the shootout, sending the travelling fans into raptures.

Wrexham were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Altrincham back in January, but all they care about this season is promotion back to the EFL, and they have put themselves in a very strong position to win the league.

Courtesy of a remarkable 28-game unbeaten run in the National League, the Red Dragons are three points clear of Notts County with a game in hand, and they are set to face off against their rivals for the title in a huge clash on Monday afternoon.

In the reverse fixture against Halifax, Phil Parkinson's side ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at the Racecourse Ground, where they have been formidable all season, only dropping two points across the entire campaign.

Away form has also been outstanding for Wrexham, winning eight of their last nine league games on their travels, while they also managed to defeat Championship playoff-chasers Coventry City 4-3 on the road in the FA Cup.

Last time out, the Red Dragons reached the 100-point mark with a dominant 5-1 win at home against Oldham Athletic, with Paul Mullin continuing his wonderful goal-scoring form, netting a hat-trick.

Halifax Town National League form:

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Wrexham National League form:

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Team News

After his dramatic late equaliser last time out, Alli has now scored in his last two games, and the Irishman is set to keep his place for Halifax on the left wing, with Angelo Cappello on the opposite side, supporting Dieseruvwe as lone striker.

Despite the forward's poor recent record in front of net, he is still the Shaymen's top scorer this season with nine goals, and alternative option Robert Harker is also in disappointing form, failing to score in his last three league games.

Festus Arthur has now returned from injury, having missed the last two league games, but Millington is likely to stick with Stott and Jesse Debrah at the heart of defence.

Wrexham have no fresh injury concerns to deal with, meaning Parkinson should by and large stick by the team that defeated Oldham, although he may choose to bring striker Ollie Palmer back into the starting lineup, with Sam Dalby failing to score in the last match.

Eoghan O'Connell scored his second goal for the club against the Latics, and the 27-year-old should keep his place in the centre of defence alongside Jordan Tunnicliffe.

Halifax Town possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Golden, Stott, Debrah, Senior; Gilmour, Summerfield, Cooke, Warburton, Alli; Dieseruvwe

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Foster; Tunnicliffe, Tozer, O'Connell, Mendy; Cannon, Barnett, Jones, Lee; Mullin, Palmer

We say: Halifax Town 0-2 Wrexham

Halifax have little to play for in the National League, and their main goal this season will now be to win the FA Trophy, while Wrexham are still firmly in the promotion hunt, and every game is crucial to them at this stage.

As such, we expect the visitors to win comfortably, extending their unbeaten run to 29 games.

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