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

The upcoming visitors were involved in another high-scoring encounter at the weekend, but once again failed to pick up all three points.

Match preview

National League champions Wrexham continued their rather ropey start to the season with a 3-3 draw against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend.

An early red card to winger Ryan Barnett proved costly, but Phil Parkinson's men fought hard from a goal down on three separate occasions with a man light to claim a point.

The early setback is not what Parkinson would have hoped for, considering that Wrexham were looking to bounce back from a 5-0 thrashing at Stockport County a week earlier.

That humbling defeat ended a four-game winning run which led many to believe that Wrexham would catch fire in League Two.

However, the reality of the Football League has bore its head for the title favourites - something they quickly realised after winning just one of their first five games of the season.

Wrexham are currently ninth in what is a very congested League Two top half, and despite a shaky couple of games, they remain well in the mix after 10 matches.

The next few days will test their mettle at this level though, with two tricky trips to Mansfield here, and then second-placed Crawley Town to come at the weekend.

Mansfield should provide a tough test, as their wonderful start to the season continued with a hard-fought point at Gillingham on Saturday.

Just four days after their whirlwind EFL Cup victory over Peterborough United, Mansfield may have been forgiven for looking a little leggy, but they remained resilient to claim a draw.

Mansfield have a golden opportunity to reach an improbable EFL Cup quarter-final, facing Port Vale in the fourth round, but they have another six league matches and an EFL Trophy tie before then.

It is imperative Nigel Clough keeps his player's attentions fixed firmly on the league before then, given they are well in the hunt for promotion, entering the midweek set of fixtures in fifth, just two points off the top.

With the two favourites for promotion in Wrexham and Notts County, as well as sixth-placed AFC Wimbledon to come in the next three, it represents a huge challenge for Clough's men though.

Mansfield Town League Two form:

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Mansfield Town form (all competitions):

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Wrexham League Two form:

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Wrexham form (all competitions):

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Team News

Barnett will be suspended for Wrexham after his straight red card at the weekend, with this being the first of a three-match ban.

Last season's top scorer Paul Mullin's return has been a huge welcome, after puncturing a lung in pre-season.

Mullin netted twice at the weekend to help claim a point for Wrexham in just his third start since that sickening injury.

The newest member of Wrexham's ex-Premier League contingent got his first goal at the weekend, with Steven Fletcher scoring the 95th-minute equaliser against Crewe.

Clough made five changes to his Mansfield side at the weekend, despite the fact they beat higher-level opposition in the cup.

With the club's packed schedule, the manager could recall some of those who were left out at the weekend.

Full-backs George Williams and Baily Cargill, as well as Hiram Boateng are the likeliest candidates to return.

Irish midfielder pairing Stephen Quinn and John Joe O'Toole are both currently out injured.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Williams, Flint, Brunt, Cargill; Lewis, Reed, Boateng, Keillor-Dunn; Akins, Maris

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Hayden, Tozer, Boyle; Mendy, Jones, Evans, Lee, McClean; Palmer, Mullin

We say: Mansfield Town 1-3 Wrexham

Goals have been almost guaranteed at Wrexham under Parkinson, and a strong Mansfield team could see this be an electric contest.

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