Preview: Wrexham vs. Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups

Wrexham will be bidding to record their first win of the 2023-24 League Two campaign when they welcome Walsall to the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night.

The Welsh outfit currently occupy 20th in the League Two table, boasting one point from their opening two matches, while Walsall sit 10th, having picked up three points from their first two games.

Match preview

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Wrexham secured a return to the Football League for the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of their National League success last season, finishing top of the division with 111 points.

Much is expected of the Dragons, who are owned by Canadian-American actor Ryan Reynolds and American actor Rob McElhenney, but it has been a modest start to the season for the club.

Indeed, the Welsh side opened their League Two season with a 5-3 loss at home to MK Dons on August 5 before overcoming Wigan Athletic on penalties to advance to the second round of the EFL Cup.

Phil Parkinson's side managed to pick up their first point of the campaign on Saturday, meanwhile, as they drew 1-1 at AFC Wimbledon; Elliot Lee sent the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute, but a 81st-minute penalty from James Tilley meant that the points were shared.

Wrexham have brought James McClean and Will Boyle to the club this summer, but there are expected to be more incomings before the end of the transfer window.

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Walsall, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Stockport on Saturday, with the home side surviving a late scare to secure all three points.

Mat Sadler's side were two goals ahead heading into the final exchanges before Ryan Rydel registered to set up a grandstand finish, but the hosts managed to hold on for the win.

Walsall opened their League Two campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe before losing a seven-goal thriller with Blackburn Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup last week.

The Saddlers finished 16th in League Two last season, and they have been present in the fourth tier of English football since their relegation from League One at the end of 2018-19.

Sadler's team have made a number of signings this summer, with Douglas James-Taylor, Danny Johnson and Aramide Oteh among those to arrive during the current market.

Team News

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Wrexham will again be without the services of star forward Paul Mullin, who suffered a punctured lung during the club's pre-season clash with Manchester United last month.

The home side are otherwise in good shape, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Ollie Palmer is again likely to feature as the centre-forward, with Lee and McClean in the wide areas, but Anthony Forde and Jordan Davies are both pushing to come into the side.

Walsall, meanwhile, could also be unchanged from their win over Stockport on Saturday.

Oteh will have put himself in the thoughts of his manager due to his goal off the bench in the team's last match, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the forward introduced.

Jamille Matt and Joe Riley are also options for change, but it is unlikely that head coach Sadler will make many alterations due to the impressiveness of the performance on Saturday.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Foster; O'Connell, Tozer, Boyle; Barnett, Cannon, O'Connor, Mendy; McClean, Palmer, Lee

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Evans; Williams, Daniels, Hussey; Foulkes, McEntee, Hutchinson, Stirk, Gordon; Johnson, Oteh

We say: Wrexham 2-1 Walsall

Walsall are unbeaten against Wrexham since February 2001, although the two sides have not locked horns since April 2007. Wrexham will be desperate to get their campaign up and running in terms of a win, and we are expecting the Welsh outfit to navigate their way to all three points.

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