Mansfield vs Wrexham: TV channel, team news and predicted line ups

Wrexham travel to face Mansfield Town in the League One fixture on Sunday.

Wrexham have a chance to win three successive EFL away matches for the first time since August 2003 when they travel to face a struggling Mansfield Town on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Dragons are now five points below Wycombe Wanderers for second following a 2-1 defeat at home to Leyton Orient on Tuesday, while the Stags were beaten 3-0 by Lincoln City, their seventh loss in their last eight domestic encounters.

Wrexham’s away improvement vs Mansfield’s home woes

It’s crazy to think that over the past couple of weeks, the Red Dragons have been stronger away from the Racecourse Ground than they have been at it. Phil Parkinson’s men have lost their last two League One contests at home and were schooled by a Leyton Orient side who were seemingly toying with them at times on Tuesday. Wrexham have not conceded in their last two away league matches, averaging 1.60 points per game on the road.

On the other side, Nigel Clough’s side are going through a rough stretch at the Field Mill, losing four successive domestic encounters at home and without a goal in those last three games.

Wrexham’s lack of creativity

Heading into the winter transfer window, nearly everybody was urging the team to get a new striker, but what good is a proven striker good for if they don’t get proper service? Creativity seems to be in short supply as of late, with most of their goals either coming from strong wide play or hopeful long balls. Ollie Rathbone looks to be among their best chance creators down the middle but although Andy Cannon at times has moments of quality, it feels like there’s no true playmaker on this squad.

TV Channel

Wrexham’s trip to face Leyton Orient will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports+ and streamed live on the Sky Go App.

US viewers can watch full coverage on Paramount+ with kick-off from 3pm GMT on Sunday 23 February 2025.

Goalkeeping dilemma

There’s an interesting debate going on at the moment about who should start in the Wrexham goal. Few would’ve predicted at the start of the season that Mark Howard would be ahead of Arthur Okonkwo, but the veteran has started in the Red Dragons’ last three League One contests.

Okonkwo’s had some recent success versus Mansfield Town though, starting in their last four competitive fixtures against them and posting three clean sheets. Howard on the other hand, hasn’t been bad since taking over but has lost two of his last three starts against the Stags.

Team news

Elliott Lee has returned to training ahead of missed the Orient defeat following a car crash, while James McClean has had a scan on a hip injury and is a doubt. Callum Burton is still out with a torn thigh muscle, while Luke Bolton and Will Boyle are both sidelined with thigh strains.

Mansfield were without Alfie Kilgour in midweek who is struggling to return to fitness since rupturing his Achilles, while Rhys Oates and Lee Gregory were omitted from the squad with knee issues.

Predicted XIs

Mansfield Town: Pym; Williams, Hewitt, Flint; Akins, Quinn, Reed, Maris, McLaughlin; Evans, Vickers.

Wrexham: Okonkwo; Cleworth, O’Connell, Scarr; Barnett, Cannon, James, Rathbone, McClean; Marriott, Smith.