Preview: Wrexham vs. Crewe Alexandra - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are currently seventh in the table, having taken 15 points from their opening nine games, with the visitors sitting one point higher, in sixth place.

Match preview

Wrexham have adapted pretty well to life in League Two, having won the National League title last season, but they head into Saturday's game off the back of a heavy defeat in their last match.

Last Saturday, the Red Dragons lost 5-0 away at Stockport County, and Phil Parkinson will be looking for a response from his side this weekend, but they have looked shaky at the back in a number of games this season.

The Welsh side have conceded five goals in three of their opening nine matches, losing 5-3 against MK Dons on the opening day of the campaign and drawing 5-5 against Swindon Town back in August, which may be a concern for Parkinson.

However, Wrexham are the third-top scorers in the fourth tier, having found the back of the net 20 times so far this season, so it is clear they have a lot of attacking firepower.

The same can be said about the Red Dragons' opponents, however, as Crewe Alexandra have scored 21 goals in their opening nine games, and they sit one point above the hosts in the league table.

Crewe have also looked a little shaky at the back, having failed to pick up a clean sheet in League Two up to this point, but their attacking approach has paid off so far, as they look to return to League One at the second attempt.

The Alex have taken five points from their opening four away games, picking up decent points at AFC Wimbledon and Swindon Town, while also running out 4-1 winners against Forest Green Rovers earlier this month.

It will be a tough ask to replicate that performance this weekend, considering the Railwaymen's opponents are unbeaten at home since the opening day of the season, winning their last three in all competitions.

However, Lee Bell's side head into the game fresh off the back of a victory, with Chris Long bagging a brace to secure a 2-1 victory against Colchester United at the Mornflake Stadium last weekend.

Wrexham League Two form:

D

D

W

W

W

L

Wrexham form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

L

Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

D

L

W

W

D

W

Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

W

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Team News

Two Wrexham defenders should be returning from injury soon, with Jordan Tunnicliffe making progress towards recovery, and Eoghan O'Connell set to return to full training by the end of this week, but both are set to miss out this weekend.

Parkinson may be tempted to make some changes in attack, given that his side failed to score in the last match, and Ollie Palmer could come back into the side, replacing Sam Dalby.

As for Crewe, centre-back Connor O'Riordan has been declared fit, and he will be available for selection this weekend, while Charlie Finney and Charlie Colkett are also in contention, having featured for the U21s against Fleetwood Town in midweek.

However, there is no such luck for midfielder Conor Thomas, who is expected to remain sidelined, having been ruled out of last week's victory against Colchester.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Howard; Hayden, Tozer, Boyle; Barnett, Young, O'Connor, Lee, McClean; Mullin, Palmer

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Davies; Adebisi, Offord, Demetriou, Williams; Powell, Tabiner, White; Tracey, Long, Baker-Richards

We say: Wrexham 2-1 Crewe Alexandra

Parkinson will be looking for a response from his side this weekend, after the very disappointing 5-0 defeat away at Stockport County last time out.

Wrexham have been very solid at home all season, winning their last three matches at the Racecourse Ground on the spin, so we expect them to bounce back with a victory this weekend.

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