Preview: Wrexham vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

In a clash that could impact the contention for the rubric and the contention for promotion, Wrexham are acceptable to invited Blackpool to the Racecourse Ground connected Thursday successful their 22nd League One crippled of the campaign.

The hosts are successful 3rd spot with 42 points pursuing their 1-1 gully with Bristol Rovers connected December 21 and are conscionable 3 points from first-placed Birmingham City, whereas the visitors are 12th with 27 points and are 4 points from sixth-placed Lincoln City, who inhabit the league's last promotion playoff spot.

Match preview

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Wrexham volition beryllium disappointed that they failed to instrumentality 3 points from their clash against Bristol Rovers considering they were winning 1-0 aft 18 minutes but allowed their opponents to people an 86th-minute equaliser.

Head manager Phil Parkinson was mostly impressed with his team's showing against managerless Bristol Rovers, telling reporters: "We dominated really, we ne'er felt nether immoderate unit successful hard conditions. A infinitesimal has outgo america but if we're honorable the crippled should person been done and dusted by then."

The gully was the Red Dragons' 2nd consecutive stalemate, though they did triumph their anterior 5 matches.

However, Parkinson's broadside person lone scored much than 1 extremity 3 times successful their past 14 matches, though they person lone conceded connected 3 occasions successful their 7 astir caller outings.

The hosts' grounds astatine the Racecourse Ground is phenomenal considering they person triumphed successful 16 of their past 18 games astatine the stadium and are unbeaten astatine location since a 1-0 nonaccomplishment against Tranmere Rovers successful March.

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Meanwhile, Blackpool drew 0-0 with Stevenage connected December 21, a lucifer successful which neither broadside created a azygous large chance.

Boss Steve Bruce accepted that a gully was a just effect but criticised his players, saying: "It was a pugnacious ticker each day - it was hard with a upwind swirling around, but we didn't amusement capable prime successful the past third. Our determination making astatine times wasn't the best, truthful it was frustrating."

Bruce's broadside person lone played 20 games successful League One, 1 less than sixth-placed Lincoln City and fifth-placed Stockport County.

Blackpool's grounds of 29 goals scored and 31 conceded successful the 3rd tier makes them the division's associated 8 champion violative and 18th champion antiaircraft club.

The visitors person won 3 of their past 4 games successful League One, and portion they person mislaid 4 of their 7 astir caller distant games successful the league, they did triumph their past 3 connected the road.

Wrexham League One form:

Wrexham signifier (all competitions):

Blackpool League One form:

Blackpool signifier (all competitions):

Team News

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Wrexham midfielder Elliot Lee is acceptable to miss retired connected Boxing Day but volition soon beryllium available, and successful his absence, Parkinson could commencement Andy Cannon, Matty James and Oliver Rathbone.

First-choice goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is nearing a return, but it is harmless to presume that helium volition not beryllium thrown consecutive into the starting XI, with Mark Howard apt to beryllium shielded by centre-backs Max Cleworth, Eoghan O'Connell and Lewis Brunt.

Forward Jack Marriott is backmost moving connected writer but is inactive not available, truthful possibly Luke Thomas and Ollie Palmer volition diagnostic successful attack.

As for the visitors, they volition not beryllium capable to prime defenders Andy Lyons and Elkan Baggott, truthful expect Bruce to commencement a defence consisting of Odeluga Offiah, Matthew Pennington, Oliver Casey and James Husband.

Lee Evans and Albie Morgan are apt to commencement successful midfield fixed Joshua Onomah has been ruled retired and that CJ Hamilton and Sonny Carey are doubts.

Ashley Fletcher and Kyle Joseph started successful the guardant enactment for Blackpool against Stevenage, and the duo are astir definite to look connected Thursday.

Wrexham imaginable starting lineup:
Howard; Cleworth, O'Connell, Brunt; Barnett, Cannon, James, Rathbone, McClean; Thomas, Palmer

We say: Wrexham 2-1 Blackpool

Wrexham person a steadfast squad compared to Blackpool and should beryllium assured of regularly threatening their opponents.

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