Dragons eye top of the table in bid for bragging rights
THE RACECOURSE WREXHAM v TRANMERE
W3pm REXHAM will look to bag the bragging rights against derby rivals Tranmere once again this afternoon as they continue their promotion bid.
Dean Keates’ side are currently fourth in the National League, but have leaders Macclesfield in their sights.
Last weekend’s 2-0 win at crisis-hit Hartlepool, coupled with Macclesfield’s shock 6-0 hammering at AFC Flyde, moved the Dragons to within four points of the summit with a game in hand.
Another victory today for Keates’ side will ensure they keep up the pressure on Macclesfield ahead of that game in hand at Gateshead on Tuesday night.
“It is getting to the business end and hopefully we can carry on getting the results that we have been doing,” said Wrexham midfielder Marcus Kelly.
“I don’t look at the table at the start of the season, but you can see now it is starting to take shape.
“We need to stay up with the pack, which we are doing, and I think if we win our game in hand we are only a point off Macclesfield, so we are in a great position.”
Today’s opponents Tranmere have promotion aspirations of their own and, with five wins and a draw from their last seven, are fifth in the table – just one place and one point behind Wrexham.
Chris Holroyd’s second-half goal was the difference between these two sides in the reverse fixture at Prenton Park in October.
Wrexham left victorious despite playing for the majority of the match with only 10 men following Sam Wedgbury’s dismissal for two bookings inside 13 minutes.
Rovers have sold out their entire 1,800 allocation for today’s return clash at the Racecourse where the Dragons will be gunning for a third straight win and clean sheet.
The win at Hartlepool also marked their 16th shut-out in 29 league games the season.
Ahead of the game against Tranmere, Kelly added: “They are obviously having a good run of results at the minute and pushing up the table.
“They have picked up, they are a good team, have a big squad with good players, so we expected that and it is going to be another tough game.
“We’ve had a lot of clean sheets this season, 16 which is unbelievable. “That is what we are all about. “We are solid and we work really hard as a team and obviously with the new addition of Quigs (Scott Quigley) up front, he has got a couple of goals and hopefully he can continue that.”
Ex-TNS striker Quigley, on loan from Blackpool, bagged both of Wrexham’s goals on his debut in the win at Hartlepool.