Preview: York City vs. Wrexham - prediction, team news, lineups

The Minstermen are without a win in eight games across all competitions, while the visitors sit atop of the National League, remaining undefeated since early October.

Match preview

Back in the fifth tier of English football after six seasons away, York have started to struggle after a promising start to the campaign.

Since a 1-0 win over bottom club Torquay United at the start of October, they have picked up just three points from a possible 24, coming into this one off the back of three consecutive defeats.

The poor run has since cost legendary manager John Askey his job, a dismissal that has caused outrage throughout the club, with some players even taking to social media to protest the decision.

Last week's narrow defeat to fellow promoted side Dorking Wanderers continued a disheartening streak of defeats, as James McShane nodded home at the back post.

Falling closer and closer to the drop zone, and with three of the top seven to come next, The Minstermen could do with some unlikely points this weekend.

Phil Parkinson's Wrexham, on the other hand, have taken the National League by storm this season, having crashed home 52 goals in 20 games, winning all ten of their games at the Racecourse Ground.

Last season's top scorer, Paul Mullin, has followed up his 28 strikes last campaign with 18 goals in 21 appearances so far, including an FA Cup hat trick last weekend.

While the Red Dragons have been perfect at home, they have lost twice on their travels, but only to second-placed Notts County, and third-placed Chesterfield.

Following their agonising defeat in the play-offs last campaign, the Welsh side will be desperate to carry on their storming run and confirm automatic promotion this time around.

York City National League form:

D

L

D

L

L

L

York City form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

L

L

Wrexham National League form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Wrexham form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

W

Team News

For the hosts, full-back Ryan Fallowfield went down injured during the defeat to Dorking, and could be in danger of missing out here.

Up front, Lenell John-Lewis will be looking to add to his eight league goals this campaign, over a third of his side's strikes.

League leaders Wrexham will be without midfielder Jordan Davies, who suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup last weekend.

Striker Ollie Palmer could come back into the starting lineup, while Rob Lainton, Jacob Mendy, Reece Hall-Johnson and Harry Lennon are all back in contention after injury layoffs.

York City possible starting lineup:

Ross; Crookes, Kerr, Kouogun, Fallowfield; Whittle, Dyson, Pybus, Hancox; Duku, John-Lewis

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Howard; Tunnicliffe, McFadzean, Tozer, Hayden; Young, Jones, Lee, Davies; Mullin, Palmer

We say: York City 0-2 Wrexham

With York in a tricky situation, suffering on and off the pitch, we expect to see the league leaders take full advantage.

With the potential return of Palmer to the forward line, the visitors look far too strong.

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