Wrexham

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Wrexham will assess Nathan Broadhead ahead of Saturday's contest with Stoke City (15:00 BST), although Zak Vyner will miss the fixture with the Potters.

Attacker Broadhead - who came off the bench in the 63rd minute of his side's 2-0 loss to Birmingham City on Sunday - is struggling with a tight hamstring.

As for Vyner, the defender was not included in the matchday squad for Wrexham's trip to St Andrew's last time out.

"Broady's got a bit of a tight hamstring, so we're just going to review that up to the weekend," manager Phil Parkinson said.

"Zak Vyner has got to re-scan his groin tomorrow (Friday). Zak won't make the weekend, 100%. He's feeling a lot better, but that'll be too soon.

"Nathan, we'll assess him very close to kick-off."

Matty James has featured in his side's defeats by Southampton and Birmingham since recovering from the toe injury that kept him sidelined for two months.

He is in contention to feature against Stoke at Stok Cae Ras this weekend, although fellow central midfielder Ben Sheaf remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

"Matty was never going to play more than 60 minutes at the weekend, but he's fine," added Parkinson.

"Ben is still not with us on the training pitch. He has had some training but he's got a minor setback."

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Stoke City will hope to officially confirm their status as a Championship club for another season when they visit Wrexham on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST).

The Potters are 11 points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play and need a win to guarantee survival - or for either Blackburn to lose or Oxford to fail to win.

The Red Dragons are looking for a victory to keep them in the hunt for a play-off place as they start the weekend four points behind sixth-placed Hull City.

• Wrexham have lost 12 of their 13 league games against Stoke, with a 3-1 away win in February 1999 the only exception.

• Stoke have won all six of their away league games against Wrexham, with this their first visit since November 2001. It's the joint-best 100% away win rate one side has against another in English Football League history (Northampton also 6/6 at Dagenham & Redbridge).

• Wrexham have lost their past two league games, and could lose three in a row for the first time since February 2024 when they were in League Two.

• Stoke are on a five-game losing run away from home in the Championship, and have not lost six consecutive away league games since between January and March 2013, when they were in the Premier League.

• Josh Windass has netted 12 league goals for Wrexham this season, just one shy of equalling his most in a single Championship campaign (13 in 44 games for Sheffield Wednesday in 2024-25).

Craig Levein and Amy Irons talk to the man Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds hired to be the 'adult in the room' at their Wrexham project.

Shaun Harvey has been right at the heart of everything the Hollywood duo have done in Wales.

The former EFL chief executive and current Wrexham director joins us for a straight‑talking look at why this campaign has gone well beyond outside expectations.

Away from the Wrexham story, Harvey reflects on setting targets without boxing players in, why belief inside a club matters more than noise from the outside, and how experience and planning can ride out injuries, pressure and scrutiny.

Drawing on years at the top of the game, he opens up on managing expectations, earning success the hard way and what it really takes to keep a football club moving forward when everyone is watching.

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must get "our own house in order" rather than focusing on results elsewhere over the remainder of their run-in.

The Red Dragons sit four points adrift of the Championship play-off places with just four matches of the regular season left to play.

And having failed to capitalise on Hull City's 2-1 loss to Sheffield United at the weekend, Parkinson stressed that Wrexham's focus must be on returning to winning ways having suffered back-to-back defeats by Southampton and Birmingham City.

"We need to look closely at all the players to see who is ready to take the challenge on of Stoke City at home next week," the Wrexham manager said.

"The message is going to be this week that we need to get back to getting the balance right in our play and do better than we've done in the last two games. I think that's as simple as that. That's whatever personnel is on the pitch.

"First and foremost, before we think about anyone else's results, we've got to get our own house in order and give ourselves a chance to start with next week."

Wrexham's remaining fixtures

Wrexham v Stoke City - Saturday, 18 April (15:00 BST)

Oxford United v Wrexham - Tuesday, 21 April (19:45 BST)

Coventry City v Wrexham - Sunday, 26 April (12:00 BST)

Wrexham v Middlesbrough - Saturday, 2 May (12:30 BST)

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Waynne Phillips says it will take "something special" for Wrexham to end the season in the Championship play-offs.

The Red Dragons sit four points adrift of the top six with just four matches left to play following back-to-back losses to Southampton and Birmingham City.

Despite their play-off destiny now being out of their own hands, former Wrexham midfielder Phillips feels that Phil Parkinson's men, along with eighth-placed Derby County, are not out of the running just yet.

"It's going to take something special to finish in the top six. Hull are there at the moment," he told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"Wrexham, and Derby who are a point below Wrexham, will still believe that it's possible, and it is possible until it's mathematically impossible.

"It's a poor run at such an important point of the season, they've lost four of their last seven games.

"It would be really disappointing if the season just fizzled out as we've seen so many good things from Wrexham this season.

"But they should keep the faith and take it one game at a time."

Wrexham return to action at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday against a Stoke City side who have lost five consecutive away league games.

And Phillips believes the play-off picture could change once again at the weekend as Hull City host Birmingham at the same time Wrexham face the Potters.

"It's possible that the picture will change again on Saturday, Hull could lose and Wrexham could win at the Stok Cae Ras and suddenly everyone would think it's possible again," added Phillips.

Wrexham's Championship play-off hopes were heavily dented as they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since the opening two games of the 2025-26 campaign.

Phil Parkinson's outfit were thrashed 5-1 by Southampton and were then beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City.

It leaves the Red Dragons four points behind sixth-placed Hull City with just four matches remaining this season.

So we're asking Wrexham fans, do you think the Red Dragons will make the play-offs, or have they left themselves with too much to do?

Give us your verdict here.

Abi Cole
BBC Sport Wales

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must use their strong away form as the platform for a response when they face Birmingham City on Sunday (12:00 BST) in the Championship.

The Red Dragons travel to St Andrew's for what Parkinson described as "a massive game for obvious reasons", with Wrexham still chasing promotion.

Wrexham head into the weekend looking to recover from Tuesday night's heavy home defeat to Southampton, a result which saw them drop out of the play-off places after the Saints moved above them into sixth.

The 5-1 loss was Wrexham's heaviest of the season and their worst at home since the 7-2 defeat by Gateshead in 2011, with Parkinson admitting afterwards his side must get "back to basics" defensively.

But while the Southampton result was a major setback, Parkinson's message before the trip to Birmingham was that it cannot be allowed to overshadow the work Wrexham have done away from home this season.

Parkinson said Birmingham's recent run should not be taken lightly, despite a dip in results that has seen them lose their last three league games.

"They were probably really disappointed not to get at least a point last time out," he said of Birmingham's defeat by Ipswich.

"I think the Ipswich game was very competitive and [they were] unlucky not to get something from it."

Parkinson says his focus, however, is firmly on Wrexham's own standards after Tuesday's loss, with the priority now an improvement "all over the pitch" rather than becoming too distracted by Birmingham's form.

He believes there is enough evidence in Wrexham's recent away performances to suggest they can produce a response.

"Our away form's been brilliant apart from the Watford game," he said.

"We've done really well on our travels and it's making sure that we don't let Tuesday detract from that."

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The EFL has announced the fixtures for the 2026-27 season will be published at midday on Thursday, 25 June.

The first-round draws for the Carabao Cup and the Vertu Trophy will be made on the same day.

The new season will kick off on the weekend of August 7-9 with the first round of the Carabao Cup, and the opening fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will follow a week later on 14-16 August.

The first round of the Vertu Trophy will be played in the week commencing 21 September.

Wrexham will be hoping to return to the Championship play-off places when they visit Birmingham City on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Phil Parkinson's side have a chance to regain sixth place if rivals Southampton fail to win on Saturday.

Blues have proven to be a difficult side to beat for Wrexham in recent history but their fellow promoted club have not risen to the challenge of the Championship quite as they would have liked, losing their past three league games to fall to 16th.

• Since losing their first-ever league meeting with Wrexham in October 1979, Birmingham are now unbeaten in their past six against them (W3 D3).

• All three of Wrexham's league defeats against Birmingham have come in their three visits to St Andrew's, with the Red Dragons conceding 10 goals in the process.

• Birmingham City have picked up just four points in their past eight league games (W1 D1 L6), finding the net just four times in that run. At home, they have lost two of their past four (W1 D1), more than in their previous 41 combined (W29 D11 L1).

• Wrexham have won eight of their 20 away Championship games this season (D7 L5) and are only the third newly promoted side in the past eight seasons to achieve that total, along with Sunderland in the 2022-23 season (11) and Ipswich Town in the 2023-24 campaign (12).

• In the past two seasons, only Finn Azaz (41 - 23 goals, 18 assists) has been involved in more Championship goals than Josh Windass (35 - 25 goals, 10 assists), with the Wrexham man scoring 12 goals and assisting five this season.

Image source, FAW

Former Wales international striker Malcolm Allen is confident Wrexham will still go on to secure a top six finish in the Championship.

The Dragons dropped to seventh as a result of Tuesday night's 5-1 loss at home to Southampton.

But speaking on BBC Radio Cymru's Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast, Allen says the defeat is a "big blow" but that they can bounce back when they face Birmingham City on Sunday (12:00 BST).

"They've got Birmingham City on Sunday, if they lose this one then they are out of the running, Hull are the only team they can catch," he said.

"I think Southampton will finish second as they have a game in hand and they need to play Ipswich.

"You look at the games Wrexham have left after Birmingham; Stoke at home, Oxford and Coventry away and then Middlesbrough at home. I say they need 12 points.

"With the games Hull have to play, I can't see them getting as many points.

"Wrexham will take it to the final game of the season - they will finish sixth and Hull will drop out."

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Wrexham will face Manchester United in a pre-season friendly at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on Saturday, July 18.

The north Wales club last played United at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium (above) in 2023, winning 3-1 as they prepared for life in League Two.

Currently pushing to secure a place in the Premier League for next season, this summer's meeting with the Red Devils will be Wrexham's first trip to the Finnish capital and it will take place a week after they face Wisla Krakow in Poland.

"We're delighted to confirm our match in Helsinki against Manchester United," said Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson.

"It will be a great occasion, at a famous venue against an iconic opponent, and just as importantly a good test on the pitch as part of our pre-season preparations.

"We look forward to seeing our supporters in Finland and meeting new fans from the Nordic region too."

Wrexham - owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac - will also travel again to America, where they will face Leeds United in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, July 25.

Phil Parkinson's side will then take on Liverpool in New York on Wednesday, July 29 before completing the trip against a fourth Premier League side, meeting Sunderland in Mac's home city Philadelphia on Sunday, August 2.

"Our pre-season programme has come together, with some great games planned both in Europe and the United States and promises to be an exciting summer for all involved," added Williamson.

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Wrexham will hold an in-house training game on Wednesday as they bid to get certain players up to full speed for the remainder of their Championship run-in.

The Red Dragons will utilise their pre-scheduled training day in the aftermath of Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Southampton, allowing fringe players additional minutes on the pitch ahead of the club's return to action at Birmingham City on Sunday (12:00 BST).

According to WhoScored.com, forward Jay Rodriguez - who was unavailable until late December due to a stress fracture - has played just 16 minutes of Championship football this season.

Bailey Cadamarteri and Davis Keillor-Dunn - who both joined late on in the January transfer window - have played only 27 and 70 minutes respectively in the league since moving to north Wales.

In midfield, Matty James returned to action as a substitute in the loss to Southampton after two months on the sidelines with a toe injury.

It is hoped James' fellow central midfielder Ben Sheaf - who sustained a medial ligament knee injury in February - could feature during his side's run-in.

In defence, Dan Scarr has made just two Championship starts in 2026 while Lewis Brunt's sole appearance since suffering a thigh injury at Middlesbrough on 25 October came in the FA Cup against Chelsea.

Ryan Barnett has been restricted to just three substitute appearances across all competitions since the turn of the year and is also among those who will likely benefit from additional minutes.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward has not featured in a competitive match for Wrexham or Wales since recovering from the elbow injury he sustained at Millwall on 30 August.

Elsewhere, left wing-back Liberato Cacace - who has been plagued by injuries since joining Wrexham from Empoli last summer - has not yet returned to training following his latest issue.

On the training match, manager Phil Parkinson said: "We'll look at Ben (Sheaf) tomorrow (Wednesday) because we're going to come in and have a practice game for the lads who need some football, because obviously the (Birmingham) game's not until Sunday.

"It's never great coming in when you've got beat, but unfortunately it's a scheduled day's training and we need to be in together as a group and reflect on this game and be ready to respond."

Defeat by Southampton saw Wrexham drop to seventh, two points behind the Saints who have a game in hand.