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  7. Stockport trip a chance to make up ground

    Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson writes notes on the touchline during the midweek EFL Trophy game at Port ValeRex Features

    Wrexham have an opportunity to make up ground – temporarily at least – in the race for promotion to the Championship this weekend.

    Phil Parkinson's team go to Stockport County on Saturday hoping to build on last weekend's hard-fought victory over Mansfield Town.

    Should they claim another win, Wrexham will move back into the automatic promotion places and to within a point of top spot.

    That is because the leaders Wycombe Wanderers, as well as second-placed Birmingham City, have the weekend off after their fixtures were postponed because of international call-ups.

    By Saturday night, Wycombe will have a game in hand on Wrexham and Birmingham will have played two fewer league fixtures than the Dragons.

    Even so, an away triumph against sixth-placed Stockport would serve as a reminder to others at the top end of the division that Wrexham are serious contenders this season.

    "It's a very tough league and there are a lot of good teams up there," said Ryan Barnett, one of Parkinson's star men this season.

    "But we have so much confidence within the squad.

    "We know we should be pushing up there because we have got that quality. All we can do is keep putting in performances week in, week out and see where we are at the end."

    Wrexham players celebrate against Mansfield last weekendRex Features

    Barnett says the mood within Wrexham's dressing room right now means the club's players cannot wait for each fixture to come around.

    After mass alterations were made for the midweek EFL Trophy game at Port Vale, Parkinson is expected to revert to something close to the side which started against Mansfield.

    Wrexham may not have been at their very best against the Stags, but found a way to win against another side in the promotion mix, courtesy of Barnett's first goal of the campaign.

    After promotion in each of the last two seasons, Barnett says Wrexham know how to deliver results even when levels dip.

    "You look at last season - there were a lot of times when we weren't at our best but we ground out those performances," he said.

    "Those points can be massive come the end of the season."

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