Preview: Wrexham vs. Sutton United - prediction, team news, lineups

The pre-season title favourites currently lie fourth, outside of the automatic promotion places and five points adrift of leaders Stockport County.

Match preview

Not everything has been plain sailing for Wrexham on their return to the EFL, and they dropped points again at the weekend, drawing 1-1 at Bradford City.

That draw means Wrexham have now won just two of their last six games, the kind of form their fans have not been used to since the takeover of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Indifferent form means Phil Parkinson's side are struggling to keep pace with Stockport at the top, a side who have now won eight in a row.

Wrexham have only won six games all season, but with League Two so devilishly tight and everybody taking points off each other, the hosts are still in a very strong position for promotion.

Should results go their way here, specifically a win for themselves with Crewe Alexandra or Notts County dropping points, Wrexham would move into the automatic promotion places.

Moving above County would be nicely timed, as this fixture will also serve as preparation for Parkinson and his side before they have a mouth-watering encounter against last season's title rivals on Saturday.

Sutton, on paper, look like the ideal opponents too, considering they currently prop up the Football League.

Everything has gone downhill rapidly for Sutton ever since beating Notts County 5-1 in a remarkable match on the opening day, losing 11 of the 13 games since.

A 4-0 win over Walsall at the start of the month failed to act as a springboard for Sutton to turn their season around.

Back-to-back defeats have followed at Doncaster Rovers and at home to Morecambe, conceding seven goals in the process.

Despite fighting back from 2-0 down at the weekend against Morecambe, Matt Gray's side fell to another agonising defeat, conceding in injury time to lose 3-2.

Sutton are still only three points from safety, but they have played a game more than Colchester United and Forest Green Rovers, the two sides directly above them in the League Two standings.

Turning their fortunes around here looks unlikely too, considering they have lost all six away games so far and now travel to a side that have scored 23 goals in their seven home games this season.

Wrexham League Two form:

L

D

D

W

W

D

Wrexham form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

W

D

Sutton United League Two form:

D

L

L

W

L

L

Sutton United form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

L

L

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Team News

Wrexham's Andy Cannon will serve the final game of his three-match suspension here after his sending off against Crawley Town earlier this month.

Ryan Barnett returned to the starting XI at the weekend after serving a three-game ban of his own, and it was he who provided the assist for Wrexham's only goal.

Paul Mullin was the scorer of that goal, getting on the scoresheet for the first time since Wrexham's 3-3 draw with Crewe at the end of September, and he could link up with Steven Fletcher again after the Scot made his first start at the weekend.

Jacob Mendy returned by making a 10-minute cameo at Bradford and could come into the side at wing-back, but Anthony Forde is expected to remain out.

Sutton were able to welcome Dion Pereira back to the matchday squad after he was away on international duty with Antigua & Barbuda last week.

Pereira came on as a second-half substitute, and with rotation likely here, he could start along with Harry Beautyman in the wide areas.

Striker Harry Smith is undroppable at the moment though, as four goals in his last three games is one of the few recent positives for Sutton.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Hayden, Tozer, O'Connor; Mendy, Jones, Evans, Lee, McClean; Mullin, Fletcher

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Bouzanis; Kizzi, Goodliffe, Sowunmi, Hart; Pereira, Eastmond, Clay, N'Guessam, Beautyman; Smith

We say: Wrexham 4-1 Sutton United

While showing some inconsistent form, Wrexham have been free-scoring at home, something that has remained constant from last season's success.

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