By Jacob Maddaford
Wrexham could be hosting a promotion party on Saturday, but manager Phil Parkinson won’t be ordering the beers and champagne just yet.
The Dragons manager insists it will be business as usual before their League Two home match against Forest Green Rovers, even though Wrexham may end up celebrating back-to-back promotions for their first time in the club’s history.
If Parkinson’s men win and their promotion rivals MK Dons and Barrow fail to win, then promotion would be sealed.
“Our aim is to focus on the game and what we have got to do ourselves,” said Parkinson.
“We can’t control anything outside, and our destiny is ultimately in our own hands.
“We’re going to go out and win the game and see what happens at the end. Whatever happens elsewhere we’ve got to go out and get the three points.”
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DragonBet make Wrexham firm favourites to beat bottom club, Forest Green. Wrexham are 1/3 to win, with Rovers priced at 13/2. The draw is 15/4.
The Racecourse club currently sit in second place in the table after a run of four victories in their last five games.
They will earn promotion with a win, so long as MK Dons fail to beat Mansfield at home on the same day and Barrow fail to get all three points away at Gillingham.
Wrexham understandably go into this game as massive favourites against bottom of the table Rovers, who have only one win in their last six games.
However, the Dragons should be cautious as Forest Green are only three points from safety and fighting for survival. An unlikely win could take them level on points with 22nd place Sutton United.
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Wrexham do have one of the most in-form strikers in the whole of the EFL in the shape of Paul Mullin. He has 10 goals and two assists in his side’s last nine games and is currently third in the Golden Boot race with 21 goals, just four behind Notts County’s Macauley Langstaff.
It was Longstaff who beat Mullin to the award last season in the National League.
Mullin recently received praise from his manager, after he was awarded with the League Two player of the month award.
“Mulls is a big-match player and time and time again he produces moments when you need them the most,” said Parkinson.
As well as Mullin, Wrexham have had an unlikely source of attacking output in their last two games – right wing-back Ryan Barnett has chipped in with a goal and an assist in his last two appearances.
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He opened the scoring in Wrexham’s 4-1 victory against Crawley Town, which was his first goal since December 2022.
Elliott Lee is another player who has been crucial in Wrexham’s promotion push this season.
But he hasn’t scored since the beginning of March, so will be looking to end that barren run in front of goal in what could prove to be the club’s biggest game of the season.
Should Wrexham clinch promotion on Saturday afternoon, that would be the perfect ending to this chapter of the club’s story under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny.
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The two Hollywood stars, who took over the club in 2020, set out an ambition to return the side to the EFL as soon as possible.
While there was a delay in the first year, there was steady and evident progress. They lost out in the play-offs in 2022, but then came roaring back by winning the title with a record 111 points last season.
“If we were able to get over the line and get promotion, we’ve got a long time to plan and build the squad strong for next year whatever division we’re in,” added Parkinson.
Three more points and Wrexham will be back in League One for the first time since 2004.
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League Two – Saturday, April 13, 2024
Crawley Town v Colchester United
Crewe Alexandra v Grimsby Town
Doncaster Rovers v Accrington Stanley
Gillingham v Barrow
Harrogate Town v Sutton United
M K Dons v Mansfield Town
Newport County v Tranmere Rovers
Salford City v Bradford City
Stockport County v Morecambe
Swindon Town v AFC Wimbledon
Walsall v Notts County
Wrexham v Forest Green Rovers
