Wrexham host Newport County in a Welsh derby in League Two this afternoon.
Wrexham play their final home game of 2023 today, against no other than their Welsh rivals Newport County.
It promises to be an enthralling game to cap what’s been a likewise year for the Dragons, who earned promotion from the National League last season.
They’ve since started this season under Phil Parkinson in a positive manner, taking 40 points from their opening 21 games to find themselves in 3rd place of the League Two table as things stand.
Newport meanwhile are down in 17th after a tough campaign to date; they drew their last League Two outing at home to Grimsby Town but have only lost one of their last four in the league.
But today’s game at the Racecourse Ground will be a tough one, with Wrexham set to be boosted by an increased attendance.
1,800 extra Wrexham fans set to watch on
A temporary Kop Stand has been opened for today’s game.
Wrexham are set to welcome a bumper attendance and it’s set to be their biggest attendance at the Racecourse since 2007.
And speaking on the news, Parkinson had this to say:
“It’s fantastic news for us – just having the new stand there last week gave the ground a different feel and now having 1,800 people in it is only going to add to that.
“We’ve thrived on the atmosphere at the Cae Ras, and the greater the atmosphere and intensity in the ground, the more the lads have enjoyed that. Adding another 1,800 into the ground at the weekend will only help that.”
And Parkinson also delivered a message to the fans ahead of today’s game, saying:
“My message to the supporters is, come on and let’s get this place bouncing on Saturday. It’s so important we’re all pulling together as always. Against Colchester, the supporters identified the problems we were having at ten versus 11, and really got behind the team and, as they are always are, we want them to be right behind us again to take us into Christmas in good spirits.”
A memorable afternoon awaits for Wrexham?
2023 has been a memorable year for wrexham.
Owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as well as the players and Parkinson of course, have taken the club to the next level, and fans are enjoying their journey up the Football League pyramid.
And after what’s been a monumental year, the club will be desperate to finish on a high note at their home ground today, especially so given the fact that they’re playing rivals Newport.
Newport haven’t had a great season so far but they have found form in recent weeks, with just one defeat from their last six games in all competitions.
Wrexham can be inconsistent; they beat Colchester United with 10 men last time out but have lost two of their last six in all competitions, drawing another.
So it won’t be an easy game for either side today and Newport will surely fancy their chances of an upset.
But the odds should be with Wrexham and if they play their best game, backed by a bumper home crowd, they should get the job done.