Preview: Wrexham vs. AFC Wimbledon - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, moved into the play-off spots by drawing away to Forest Green Rovers last time out.

Match preview

As has often been the case within the past three years, Wrexham have enjoyed plenty of positive headlines on and off the pitch in the past week. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were on hand to accept five Emmy Awards for their 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary, merely hours after the Red Dragons had booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2000.

Wrexham rode their luck to defeat League One side Shrewsbury Town 1-0 at New Meadow on Sunday, with the hosts missing a hatful of chances during the encounter. However, the Welsh side dominated possession with a 62% share of the ball, with Thomas O'Connor's late effort proving that they are already capable of competing against third tier opponents.

Having won 10 of their last 15 league games, head coach Phil Parkinson and the club's fanbase will be dreaming of continuing their remarkable story by returning to the third tier for the first time since suffering relegation in 2005. In their last league game, they thrashed Barrow 4-1 to leapfrog their opponents into the automatic promotion positions.

Astonishingly, that victory featured three goals in first half injury-time for the hosts, after Kian Spence had given the visitors the lead within the opening minute. Steven Fletcher bagged his first ever hat-trick in English football, suggesting Parkinson has more than enough firepower at his disposal to continue their winning momentum against AFC Wimbledon this weekend.

However, AFC Wimbledon are putting together a surprisingly strong campaign after battling against relegation for much of last season. Johnnie Jackson's side have only been beaten six times in 25 league games, although they may have been left frustrated by collecting one point rather than three against struggling Forest Green on New Years Day.

Ali Al-Hamadi quickly restored parity after Mathew Stevens's fourth minute strike for the hosts, but neither side could find a crucial winner despite plenty of goalmouth action. In the end, sharing the spoils was probably a fair outcome, and it proved enough for the Wombles to climb above their fierce rivals Milton Keynes Dons into seventh position.

Jackson's side missed out on the chance to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup for only the second time in the club's history when losing 3-1 at home to Championship high-fliers Ipswich Town. Harry Pell's dismissal close to the hour mark left the hosts with a mountain to climb given that they were already 2-1 down, with Jack Taylor sealing the Tractor Boys' progression in the last minute.

As such, AFC Wimbledon can fully focus on mounting a push to finish in the play-offs, which would represent a massive achievement after finishing 21st last season. However, if they can spring a surprise at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, perhaps an automatic spot is not completely out of the equation just yet.

Wrexham League Two form:

D

W

W

W

L

W

Wrexham form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

W

D

W

L

W

D

AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

D

L

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Team News

Wrexham will remain without goalkeeper Rob Lainton for the remainder of the season. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery last year, but loanee stopper Arthur Okonkwo has returned to full fitness in recent weeks.

Parkinson named an unchanged side for the FA Cup victory against Shrewsbury last weekend, suggesting he has a clear first-choice starting XI in mind at the moment. As such, Paul Mullin will almost certainly partner Fletcher in attack on Saturday.

Jackson, meanwhile, made six changes against Oxford United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. Harry Pell was named in the starting lineup for his side's 2-0 victory, but he must serve a one-match suspension against Wrexham.

Paul Kalambayi remains a long-term absentee after undergoing knee surgery last year, while Omar Bugiel and Al-Hamadi are both away on international duty, which significantly weakens the visitors' attack.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Cleworth, Tozer, O'Connor; Forde, Cannon, Evans, Lee, McClean; Mullin, Fletcher

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bass; Biler, Lewis, Johnson, Currie; Little, Reeves, Lemonheigh-Evans; Tilley, Davison, Sasu

We say: Wrexham 2-0 AFC Wimbledon

With Wimbledon missing some key players through injury, suspension and international call-ups, we are struggling to see beyond Wrexham extending their impressive winning streak at the Racecourse Ground.

Parkinson's side are playing like a team primed for back-to-back promotions at present, and it would be little surprise to see them competing in League One next season given the quality of players at their disposal.

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