Wrexham will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face off with Mansfield Town in a League One meeting on Sunday.
The Red Dragons’ form has taken a nosedive in 2025, at least by their previously high standards.
Three wins from eight League One fixtures so far this year has dented Wrexham’s automatic promotion hopes a great deal.
James McClean sent a message to fans amid their team’s dip in form and is looking to bounce back this weekend.
Wrexham face Mansfield Town in a Sunday afternoon kick-off and despite their recent form, should still be favourites for the match.
However, after such a poor showing last time out against Leyton Orient, we are expecting some big changes. Here are our predictions for the game.
Paul Mullin left out for Mansfield Town clash
Paul Mullin has scored just three League One goals this season and the recent arrivals of Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith have pushed him down the pecking order.
The 30-year-old was injured recently but Phil Parkinson explained Mullin’s absence after Northampton Town last weekend, confirming he was fit but wanted to go with Steven Fletcher and Jack Marriott on the bench ahead of him.
It’s unlikely anything will change in that regard this weekend given both players have outscored him in the league this season despite playing fewer minutes.
Phil Parkinson axes key Wrexham stars and Ryan Longman starts
Wrexham have seen their previously impeccable defensive record take something of a hammering in recent months, conceding in 10 of their last 12 league fixtures.
The creativity coming from out wide has died down somewhat as well and the Mansfield match is now the perfect time for Parkinson to make some bold calls.
Wrexham fans want Ryan Longman to start more games and he should be brought into the eleven on the left in place of James McClean this weekend.
Meanwhile, if they want to keep a clean sheet, it’s probably best if Parkinson goes with a back-three of Lewis Brunt, Max Cleworth and Dan Scarr.
The latter’s form has been mixed this season but he’s improved in recent weeks.
Matty James dropped to solve Wrexham midfield problem
While Matty James has shown his quality in patches since his free-agent arrival, he cannot start in the same midfield as George Dobson.
Parkinson has been urged never to play Dobson and James together again and one will surely be dropped against Mansfield.
It’s a toss up between the two for who is axed but Dobson, Andy Cannon, and Ollie Rathbone could be Wrexham’s best bet for the weekend.