Getting to know the opposition: Wrexham

Owned by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham are tonight’s visitors to the Technique Stadium in a heavyweight clash at the top of the Vanarama National League.

The Spireites will be in search of a response after suffering a 3-2 defeat whilst hosting Solihull Moors in their most recent outing. A game in which Paul Cook’s men took an early 2-0 lead before a 22nd minute red card to Curtis Weston swung the door wide open as the Moors capitalised to steal all three points in North Derbyshire.

Searching for a return to winning ways, Chesterfield will be hoping to extend the gap between themselves and their Welsh counterparts with a convincing three points this week.

League Comparison

ClubsLeague PositionWinsDrawsLossesGoals ForGoals AgainstPoints
Chesterfield FC2nd15103522755
AFC Wrexham7th1476442549

As the league currently sits, Chesterfield have a six-point advantage over Wrexham with five places separating the two teams.

Despite the fact that the Spireites have the positional advantage, Wrexham will be keen to bear in mind that their defensive record is currently better than Chesterfield’s. Although the Welsh outfit have played a game less, their record when it comes to protecting their own net could play a pivotal role when looking to shut out the second highest goalscoring side in the National League.

Though Wrexham have a better defensive record this season, it is the Spireites who have a superior record in relation to clean sheets kept this season, keeping 13 compared to Wrexham’s 11. On average, the Red Dragons have conceded 1.00 goals per game, whilst Chesterfield themselves have managed to edge a slightly better record as they have leaked 0.96 goals per game.

Key Facts

Founded: 1864
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Nickname: The Red Dragons
Stadium (Capacity): Racecourse Ground (10,700)

Wrexham are one of the many clubs in the National League who provide a rich history, both as a long-standing club, but also as one that has had many glorious years within the professional leagues of English football.

They are the sixth oldest club in English football – behind Sheffield FC, Cray FC, Hallam FC, Notts County, and Stoke City. Additionally, Wrexham are the third oldest professional club in English Football and also the oldest in the history of Wales.

As the oldest Welsh club in history, Wrexham dominated the country’s cup competition, winning the Welsh Cup on 23 occasions, and have since been barred from entering the tournament, along with the other Welsh clubs who now play their domestic football in England.

Following their relegation from League Two in 2008, the Red Dragons have failed to climb back into the EFL. although their hopes will be heightened somewhat after McElhenney and Reynolds took over at the helm of the club.

In their 14 previous campaigns in this division, Wrexham have finished as low 19th (2019/20), and as high as fourth on two separate occasions (2010/11 & 2018/19).

Head-to-Head Record

Home SideResult
(Date)
Away Side
AFC Wrexham1-1
(October 5, 2021)
Chesterfield
AFC Wrexham0-0
(April 24, 2021)
Chesterfield
Chesterfield FC2-1
(January 23, 2021)
Wrexham
Chesterfield FC3-2
(February 8, 2020)
Wrexham
AFC Wrexham0-1
(October 15, 2019)
Chesterfield

Chesterfield remain undefeated in their previous five meetings with the Red Dragons. With that being said, each game has been hard fought, with all three of the wins for the Spireites being won by a single goal.

Paul Cook will be sure that his side have a real test on their hands, bearing in mind that the most recent two clashes have ended in a stalemate. The meeting earlier in the campaign was a real tale of two halves as Fraser Kerr gave Chesterfield the lead within the first five minutes, before the Welsh outfit managed to grab a late equaliser through talisman Paul Mullin with six minutes left on the clock.

The last time that Wrexham picked up a win in this meeting was on March 2, 2019, when they edged to a 1-0 win via a 62nd minute winner from Akil Wright.

By Sam Plummer