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Preview: Wrexham (A)

Darren Currie’s side go into the game off the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Chesterfield last weekend.

Spireites debutant Mike Fondop netted either side of a Jack Taylor wondergoal before Simeon Akinola bagged from the spot yet again to seal a point.

The Opposition

Wrexham clinched a play-off spot after beating the Bees in our last meeting at the back end of last season.

However, the Dragons would then go on to face qualifying heartache after losing 1-0 at home to Eastleigh courtesy of an extra-time Danny Hollands thunderbolt.

The Welsh side have been eyeing a return to the Football League ever since they faced the drop from League Two in 2008.

At the moment, the Dragons sit ninth, level on points with the Bees after clinching two wins and two draws whilst suffering one defeat.

They beat Barrow 2-1 in their season curtain raiser before drawing 2-2 away at Boreham Wood. A 2-1 defeat at Dover Athletic followed but they bounced back with a 1-0 win against Halifax before drawing 1-1 at Notts County last weekend. 

As for their home form, the Dragons are yet to taste defeat so far this campaign.

The Racecourse Ground, which has a capacity of 10,500, was built in 1807 and also hosts the home games of the Welsh national team. In fact, it is also recognised as the world’s oldest international stadium. 

Manager: Bryan Hughes

Bryan Hughes has embarked on his first full season as Wrexham boss after taken over at the club back in February.

The 43-year-old helped guide the Dragons to a play-off finish last time around and will be hoping to go one better this campaign.

Ahead of his appointment in February, Hughes’ only previous managerial experience came in 2014 when he was named joint manager at Scarborough Athletic alongside Paul Foot for a year.

As for his playing career, the former attacking midfielder began his career at Wrexham and was a part of the side that reached the FA Cup quarter finals during the 1996/97 season.

Hughes progressed through the youth set-up at the Welsh side before making his senior debut in 1994 but he left three years later for Birmingham City.

Whilst at the Blues, he was part of their Championship play-off winning side of 2002 and he also featured in the 2001 League Cub final before leaving in 2004.

Charlton Athletic was his next destination before he joined Hull City in 2007 following the Addicks’ relegation from the top-flight.

He tasted Championship play-off glory again whilst with the Tigers but left the club for Burton Albion in 2009.

He then moved to Grimsby Town in 2011 before moving to Iceland to play for IBV Vestmannaeyjar and after a short spell with the club, he returned to England to play for Accrington Stanley.

Hughes would go on to play for Scarborough Athletic for a year in 2013 before hanging up his boots.

Last Time Out:

It was the Dragons who took all three points when these two sides last met in April at The Hive London.

The visitors won the game 2-1 after Akil Wright and Jermaine McGlashan netted either side of a 70th minute Shaq Coulthirst goal.

Top Scorer: Mark Harris

With three goals to his name already this season, 20-year-old forward Mark Harris is currently Wrexham’s top scorer.

The youngster joined on loan from Cardiff City in the summer and has hit the ground running at his new side.

Harris went on a run of scoring in three consecutive games after netting against Boreham Wood, Dover Athletic and Halifax Town respectively.

However, he failed to make it four on the bounce against Notts County on Saturday but he will undoubtedly be aiming to return to the scoresheet this afternoon.

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