Wrexham and Stockport County face off in a blockbuster League One matchup on Saturday at The Racecourse Ground. The hosts currently occupy the third sport in the table, just outside the automatic promotion places, but are only behind Wycombe on goal difference. County are a further six points behind but have built a minimal gap between them and those below them.
The game still goes ahead
Despite the postponement of some EFL games this weekend due to the international break, Wrexham and Stockport will still go head-to-head in a potentially enthralling encounter. Both sides currently sit in the playoff places in League One with just nine league games left to play. It is still all to play for with just 12 points separating second and eighth place.
Both sides have lost just once in their last six affairs, but Wrexham have 13 points from those games, whereas Stockport only have 11.
How it Stands
County have conjured a four-point cushion between themselves and Huddersfield who sit directly below them in sixth. Leyton Orient’s recent losing run has also aided Stockport’s rise into the playoffs. But with the presence of some big clubs circulating in Bolton and Reading, the job is far from done.
Saturday’s hosts Wrexham have been hot on the heels of Wycombe for the majority of the campaign and, incidentally, beat them one-nil last Saturday at Adams Park. They are now only below them due to an inferior goal difference, but it transfers the pressure onto The Chairboys to maintain a winning form if they want to secure automatic promotion to the Championship.
Remaining fixtures
Of Wrexham’s remaining nine games, four of them are against teams currently in the top half of the table. That includes this week’s game, as well as the last three: against Charlton (4th), Blackpool (11th) and Lincoln (12th).
Wrexham’s recent success
The Welsh Dragons are vying for a third consecutive promotion and have grown profoundly as a brand in the last few years. This is largely due to Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over the club back in February of 2021.
Since then, Wrexham have enjoyed great success, winning the National League in 2023, before finishing second in League Two last season. They have aspirations of the Premier League and have attracted an American following because of their famous owners. However, the team that beat them to the League Two title last year was in fact Stockport County.
The rise of Stockport
Stockport won the league in their second season back in the Football League, following an 11-year absence. Identical to Wrexham, The Hatters play four of their remaining nine games against the top half, with their last three coming against Huddersfield, Lincoln and then Wycombe on the final day. With how congested the table is, every game could be pivotal, but that final day trip to Buckinghamshire could prove to be a decider.
Losing top-scorer Louie Barry
Stockport had to recover from losing their star man Louie Barry in January, who was recalled by parent club Aston Villa. The 21-year-old scored 15 times for them in just 23 games and was the shining light for them in the first half of the season. Their second top scorers are Isaac Olaofe and Kyle Wootton, who have netted just seven times.
The Greater Manchester outfit have had to look elsewhere since losing Barry, but have managed to retain an optimal position in the table.
Wrexham’s strong squad
Wrexham, on the other hand, acquired Reading’s top scorer Sam Smith in January to bolster their attacking ranks. The Welsh side have an abundance of experience in their squad with the likes of Paul Mullin, Steven Fletcher and James McClean. They will be hoping that the experience will be what gets them over the line in terms of promotion to the Championship.
Importance of Saturday’s game
Stockport owns somewhat of a lower profile and has flown under the radar this season, particularly with how strong the league is. Under Dave Challinor, they have placed themselves in an esteemed position to at least guarantee a playoff place come May.
Saturday’s affair at the Stok Cae Ras sets up to be an enticing affair between two high-flying teams. The result of which could be immensely consequential for both Wrexham’s and Stockport’s promotion aspirations.