Title-chasing Wrexham could go top of the National League table when they host out-of-form Chesterfield at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday.
The Red Dragons defeated Dorking Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday, while Paul Cook's side fell to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Oldham Athletic.
Match preview
© Reuters
Wrexham had gone into preceding gameweeks knowing that victories in their two outstanding games in the National League guaranteed them supplanting table-topping Notts County, but they never imagined being handed a boost over the weekend.
The side occupying first place were beaten 2-1 by 10th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge at Meadow Lane, inflicting their first league reverse since losing 3-1 at Dorking Wanderers in September.
The upshot of that result meant Phil Parkinson's team closed the gap at the top to two points, with maximum points on Saturday extending their unbeaten run in the competition.
Wrexham may have been eliminated in the FA Trophy and FA Cup by Altrincham and Sheffield United, respectively, representing two defeats since the turn of the year, but the Robins have been near perfect in the league.
Promotion remains the main goal for Parkinson's troops, and a four-month unbeaten run in the competition keeps them on track in their gripping tussle for automatic promotion to League Two.
Only four of 21 games since losing at Notts County in October have ended in draws, with that run since the defeat against their challengers including an eight-game winning run before a 2-2 draw with Woking at the Racecourse Ground on February 14.
That tie with the side from Surrey was nothing but a bump in the road, with the Robins since claiming three wins on the bounce.
© Reuters
If the second-placed side makes that a fourth on Tuesday, they will replace the Magpies at the top of the table, having played a game less and with their second meeting to come in Wales in April.
Standing in the way are Chesterfield, whom Notts County will hope can produce a performance at the Racecourse Ground to get their campaign back on track.
Cook's team are still in the hunt for promotion, sitting fifth in the standings, but a collapse since the turn of the year threatens to derail their season.
Having lost only four times in their opening 22 league games this term, the Spireites have been beaten five times in the subsequent 10 matches, one more than they suffered before the New Year.
2023 has been far from kind for the East Midlands outfit, whose atrocious run of results have come since the end of January.
The turn of the year offered promise, evidenced by a 4-1 win over Scunthorpe United and a 1-0 success over Altrincham, but the side from Derbyshire have gone off the rails since losing 3-0 at Barnet on January 28.
That defeat began a run of four losses on the spin before a sequence of three draws seemingly steadied the ship, but losing to Oldham at the Technique Stadium on Saturday was a blow Cook did not need.
While the absence of clean sheets is unmistakable — the Spireites have kept one shutout in the last eight games — they have a goalscoring problem as well, failing to score more than one in this forgettable sequence.
Tuesday's fixture is one of three games in hand for Chesterfield, whose spot in the playoff positions is not in immediate danger.
This week's fixture with Wrexham should have been held in December but was rescheduled owing to a frozen pitch at the Racecourse Ground.
Team News
© Reuters
Bryce Hosannah's recurrent injury problems should keep the Wrexham right wing-back out of Tuesday's meeting, with Anthony Forde expected to continue on that flank, having missed last week's 2-0 win due to a personal issue.
New signing Ryan Barnett was an unused substitute on Saturday, but the winger could feature against Chesterfield.
Parkinson chose to withdraw Paul Mullin early last time out, and the top-scoring forward will look to score for the sixth league game running.
Chesterfield are unlikely to have Akwasi Asante back against the automatic promotion hopefuls due to an ongoing groin issue.
Danny Rowe returned to action against Oldham and could push for a start in Cook's attack.
Joe Quigley has not scored since Boxing Day, but the Spireites' joint-leading scorer should return to the lineup after his watching brief on Saturday.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Lainton; Forde, Cleworth, Tozer, Tunnicliffe, Mendy; Young, Jones, Lee; Mullin, Palmer
Chesterfield possible starting lineup:
Fitzsimons; King, Grimes, Williams, Clements; Jones, Oldaker, Akinlola; Mandeville, Quigley, Colclough
We say: Wrexham 3-1 Chesterfield
The last time Wrexham failed to score more than one goal at the Racecourse Ground was in November, and a team low on confidence are unlikely to stop the side looking to go top.
Tuesday's visitors are expected to find the back of the net but look too feeble at present to prevent a comfortable home win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
