Wrexham vs Mansfield Town: Team news, form guide, predicted line-ups

Wrexham are looking to bounce-back from their FA Cup exit as they host fourth-placed Mansfield Town on Saturday lunchtime.

The Dragons can equal their 2004-05 League One side in one particular category on Saturday, too.

Four of the next five League One games for Wrexham take place at the Racecourse, starting on Saturday when they host Mansfield Town.

The two sides, who came up from League Two last season, are separated by just a single point in the table, with the Red Dragons sitting third and the Stags right behind them.

Wrexham and Mansfield Town’s current form

Phil Parkinson’s side come into this game on a three-match winless run across all competitions, exiting the opening round of the FA Cup on Sunday versus Harrogate Town (1-0).

It’s their longest stretch without a win since February (three), though if that slump is any indication, some big things could be coming Wrexham’s way soon.

After claiming just two points in three successive matches last season, the Dragons won nine of their final 12 League Two fixtures to secure promotion.

Conversely, the Stags have suffered just one defeat in their last nine league games (1-0 versus Stevenage).

Mansfield have been particularly sharp away from home, winning four of five fixtures, with their only defeat coming at Lincoln City on matchday three (4-1).

Phil Parkinson’s record vs Nigel Clough

For more than a dozen years, Phil Parkinson and Nigel Clough have battled on the sidelines, facing each other 13 times.

The first time was in 2009 when Clough was in charge of Derby County, and Parkinson was head coach of Charlton Athletic, with Derby and Clough claiming a 1-0 win that day.

Parkinson is unbeaten in his three meetings as Wrexham boss against Clough’s Mansfield Town, with a Paul Mullin brace giving the Red Dragons a 2-0 victory in this exact fixture last season.

Overall, Parkinson has only beaten Clough three times in 13 head-to-head matches, with the latter winning seven of those encounters.

Only Karl Robinson (14) and Danny Wilson (17) have faced Parkinson more times than Clough.

Injury News

Wrexham will be without their leading goalscorer Jack Marriott due to a broken fibula, while George Evans has torn ankle ligaments, and Steven Fletcher, who has returned to grass this week, remains out with a knee issue.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson made his first Wrexham appearance in the FA Cup defeat on Sunday, and Modou Fall also saw some action and both are pushing for minutes.

George Dobson, Andy Cannon and James McClean are all on a tightrope with all three one yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Wrexham’s home form

To this stage of the 2024-25. season, Wrexham have undoubtedly been at their best in front of their own fans at the Racecourse.

The Dragons are unbeaten in six League One home games this season, winning five of those.

Another win this weekend would equal their number of home wins from the 2004-05 campaign, which was their most recent appearance in League One.

Wrexham have scored 21 goals domestically this season, 15 in North Wales, though they were shut out last time out against a stubborn Huddersfield Town side (0-0).

Mansfield have only beaten Wrexham once in a league game at the Racecourse, winning 3-1 in 2011 when both sides were in the National League. 

Predicted XIs

Wrexham (3-5-2): Okonkwo; O’Connor, Scarr, Cleworth; McClean, Lee, Dobson, Cannon, Barnett; Mullin, Palmer

Mansfield (3-4-1-2): Pym; Cargill, Oshilaja, Bowery; McLaughlin, Maris, Reed, Quinn; Lewis; Evans, Gregory