Wrexham are arriving in South Somerset this weekend still smarting from Yeovil Town inflicting their only home defeat of the season.
Goals from Josh Staunton and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton earned the Glovers a 2-0 win in North Wales at the end of November.
The North Wales media still refer to the sending off of midfielder Liam McAlinden as “controversial” despite the fact an appeal was dismissed after an appeal by the Reds.
Striker Jordan Ponticelli also said that – despite losing by two clear goals – the big-spending side did not deserve to lose at the Racecourse Ground two months ago.
He told the North Wales Leader: “I thought we were the better side when they came here and we went down to 10 men so it will be a good game.
“Hopefully we can go there and put it right what happened. It’s our only home defeat and I thought we didn’t deserve that so hopefully we can go and get three points.”
The match is the first National League action Wrexham have had since a 3-1 defeat at Notts County in their last outing on January 2.
But, whilst Yeovil suffered an FA Trophy exit at the hands of lower division opposition last weekend, the Welsh side dispatched Isthmian League side Folkestone Invicta with a 5-1 victory.
That game was played behind-closed-doors and live-streamed (remember that?) due to COVID-19 restrictions covering Wales, but saw manager Phil Parkinson put out a strong team including Ponticelli, who scored twice.
Having ‘only’ splashed out the best part of £1m on players this season, there are rumblings of discontent at the lack of activity in the January transfer window – something that exists for clubs from Wales, less so for the rest of us in the National League.
A striker to fill the void left by an injury to Jake Hyde seems to be where manager Phil Parkinson is looking to splash the cash with reports of a £180,000 bid for AFC Wimbledon striker Ollie Palmer last weekend, and non-League hot-shots Kabongo Tshimanga from title rivals Chesterfield and Solihull Moors’ Joe Sbarra among other names linked.
FROM THE MANAGER
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has backed his side’s mentality to prove their defeat at Notts County last time out in the National League was just a blip.
Speaking to the North Wales Leader ahead of the weekend, he said: “We have got a strong mentality in the group and we want to keep that because it is so important.
“The leadership qualities in the group are really important to us, and strength of character and mentality with the way we approach games is important, allied with the quality we have shown.
“But it is digging in sometimes away from home and when decisions go against you, it seems to happen away from home and you have just got to be ready to be resilient as a group.
“That is the kind of attitude that we need to take down to Yeovil.”
TEAM NEWS
Star striker Paul Mullin appears set to return to the starting line-up having had a three-week rest with a hamstring injury.
The frontman, one of several big money additions at the Racecourse in the summer, sat out last weekend’s FA Trophy match but seems likely to return to the forward line probably alongside Jordan Ponticelli or Kwame Thomas.
Definitely out is frontman Jake Hyde who will be missing for at least another six weeks with a calf injury.
Defender Harry Lennon, who was sent off after just nine minutes of the 3-1 loss at Notts County last time out in the league, has served his suspension although has been carrying a back injury in recent weeks.
FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
Two players with a foot in both camps could find themselves facing off against each other for a second time this season.
Yeovil Town striker Adi Yussuf scored six times in 16 appearances for Wrexham whilst on loan last season, whilst Ben Tozer played 26 times for Yeovil in the 2015-16 season.
It was the Glovers’ man who came out on top when they last faced off, of course.
Top scorer Joe Quigley, recently back after an injury which kept him out of the win at the Racecourse in November, spent four matches on loan at Wrexham in 2015 whilst an AFC Bournemouth player, scoring a late equaliser in a match against Tranmere Rovers in October that year.
Other players with a foot in both camps include:
- Gold Omotayo (Yeovil Town – 2019-2020, Wrexham – 2021)
- Iffy Allen (Yeovil Town – 2015-2016, Wrexham – 2017)
- Mark Beck (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – loan – 2016)
- Izale McLeod (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – 2017)
- Chris Dunn (Yeovil Town – 2013-14, Wrexham 2016-18)
- Daniel Alfei (Wrexham – 2012/2013, Yeovil Town 2017-2018)
- Andy Bishop (Yeovil Town – loan – 2004, Wrexham – 2013-15)
- Kevin Gall (Yeovil Town – 2003-2006, Wrexham – 2010-2011)