Aiming to keep their 100% home record intact, Welsh giants Wrexham will lock horns with Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s in Northern Group B of the EFL Trophy at the Racecourse Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Red Dragons are coming into this clash following a handsome victory in League One on the weekend, whilst Wolves were successful in Premier League 2 on Friday night.
Match preview
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Following the collection of just a single point from back-to-back away matches against Leyton Orient and Stevenage – failing to find the net during either contest – Wrexham returned to winning ways at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday afternoon, smashing League One strugglers Northampton.
Scoring just on three occasions during the League Two promotion-winning campaign of 2023-24, former Republic of Ireland international James McClean bagged a brilliant brace for the Red Dragons last time out, whilst Jack Marriott and midfielder Elliot Lee also breached the Cobblers’ net to secure a 4-1 win.
After 10 matches of their long-awaited return to the third tier of English football, Wrexham currently occupy second place in the League One table, two points behind league leaders Birmingham City, who have played a game fewer than their Welsh counterparts heading into the October international break.
The Red Dragons would be leading the pack if the rankings were purely determined on home form, with Phil Parkinson‘s side winning all five of their league matches at their Racecourse Ground fortress, scoring a staggering 15 goals and allowing only four in the process.
Whilst league matters have started swimmingly, Wrexham are also on course for success in the EFL Trophy, with goals from club legend Paul Mullin and Will Boyle sealing a 2-1 victory over League Two Salford City from the opening game of the group on September 10.
After finishing third behind eventual League One champions Derby County and Lincoln City in their 2023-24 group, Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s are on a mission to advance into the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy this time around, although they might need to produce a shock result at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night in order to do so.
Courtesy of efforts either side of the half-time whistle from Tom Edozie and Fletcher Holman, Wolves managed to take a point from their trip to League Two promotion chasers Port Vale during gameweek one of the competition, although it was the senior side who snatched the extra point following a 5-4 penalty-shootout success.
Since then, the Old Gold have been wildly inconsistent in their Premier League 2 adventures, smashing Leeds United Under-21s 4-1 on September 21 before losing by the same scoreline to Derby County Under-21s on September 30, all prior to commencing October’s run of matches with a 4-2 beating of Everton Under-21s.
Opening the scoring for Wolves in Kidderminster against the young Toffees on Friday night, Dani Angel bumped his goal tally up to three in Premier League 2 this season, with the 18-year-old Spaniard hoping to showcase his talents against senior opposition in the EFL Trophy.
Part of a 26-team division at the highest level of academy football in England, Wolves are sitting 16th place in the Premier League 2 standings, level on points with prestigious youth systems such as Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Wrexham EFL Trophy form:
Wrexham form (all competitions):
Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s EFL Trophy form:
Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s form (all competitions):
Team News
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Despite facing an 11-day gap to their next fixture after Tuesday night, Wrexham are still expected to rotate their XI heavily for the visit of an academy side, meaning that Ollie Palmer and ex-Derby County man Marriott should drop to the bench.
Mullin and Steven Fletcher are set to form an experienced two-man forward line, whilst Ollie Rathbone and Sebastian Revan are pushing for starts further back on the pitch.
With a hectic schedule of League One matches to follow the international beak, expect the likes of Dan Scarr and George Dobson to start on the bench for the Red Dragons.
Starting for Gary O’Neil‘s side in the EFL Cup earlier this season, 20-year-old Alfie Pond will bring some first-team experience to the Wolves ranks on Tuesday night.
At the age of 16, Wesley Okoduwa is highly rated in the Old Gold’s youth ranks and should start on the right side of the visitors’ backline in North Wales.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Burton; Barnett, Brunt, O’Connell, O’Connor; Revan; Rathbone, Cannon, Lee; Mullin, Fletcher
Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Benjamin; Okoduwa, Pond, Mabete, Sutherland; Jeys-Farmer, Whittingham, Ashworth, Lopes; Barnett, Mangue
As has been the case with the majority of their League One visitors, we are expecting Wrexham to overwhelm Wolves Under-21s at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night.
The Red Dragons are set to make a host of changes to their XI, although Parkinson’s troops should still be more than strong enough to provide plenty of goals for their home faithful.
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