Wrexham aim to close gap & top v bottom in League Two

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson says he will not be distracted by talk of a tight promotion race

While more than half the clubs in the top four tiers of English football have a free weekend because of the international break, there are still some huge games on the domestic calendar.

Despite plenty of League One and Two players jetting off to far-flung corners of the globe, there are more than a dozen games which remain on Saturday.

There are issues at the top and bottom of both tables which will come into sharper focus by full-time.

Let’s take a look at what's in store...

Louie Barry has 11 goals in 16 appearances for Stockport this season, and has his sights set on breaching Wrexham's watertight defence

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will not be distracted by the hype over the League One promotion race as they head to face old rivals Stockport at Edgeley Park.

"It's very difficult to predict," Parkinson said. Just five points cover the sides from Wrexham in third down to Bolton in 10th in the third-tier standings.

"Barnsley suddenly appearing in fourth, there's teams all the way down in 14th when you look at them and think they could be up there," Parkinson added.

"Some people are looking at [leaders] Wycombe and thinking they're a surprise package but they're a team who were in the Championship not that long ago and are always up there in this division, so I'm not sure they're a surprise.

"There's so many teams that will be fancying their chances, but it's still early in the season. We've just got to keep our heads down, concentrate on what we have to do."

What they have to do is head to the sixth-placed Hatters, who could climb into the top four with a win. Wrexham would move within a point of leaders Wycombe if they come out on top.

Wrexham's seven away games have featured only 12 goals in total, six for the Red Dragons and six against.

No team has a better defensive record on their travels, although they will be without keeper Arthur Okonkwo who has suffered a broken wrist.

Parkinson's side are unbeaten in five and have taken 15 points from their past eight games, while County have only two wins in seven. Their two most recent home games have seen them lose 5-0 to Wycombe and beat Bolton by the same scoreline - coincidentally also the score the last time Wrexham visited the Hatters in September 2023.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell clearly knows three of the past five games against Lincoln have finished 1-1

Great expectations for tale of two Citys

There's another big game in the top half of League One on Saturday lunchtime as Exeter host Lincoln.

The Grecians are 11th but could leapfrog the Imps up to fifth with a win, though Lincoln are a tough nut to crack on the road, losing only one of their seven away games and conceding only eight goals.

Goals might be at a premium full stop as St James Park has only seen 11 of them in total in six games, behind only Wigan for the fewest goals in the division, while in-form Exeter have kept six clean sheets in their past eight games, taking 16 points.

Lincoln also have a pretty poor record in Devon, winning one of their past 10 games there, with three of the past five encounters ending 1-1.

Despite their form, Grecians boss Gary Caldwell wishes the game wasn't taking place as he is without several key players because of the international break, and has called for a change in the rules around them.

They will not have it their own way, however. The Tykes have won five of their seven away games, have the highest points per game on the road in the whole division and would go within four points of the summit with victory.

Rob Elliot is aiming to guide Crawley up the table

Reds aiming to step on Gas

It is not just the top half of League One where there is intrigue.

Crawley head west to the Memorial Ground to face Bristol Rovers who are 16th and five points clear of the Reds, who occupy the final relegation place.

Town have scored only three goals in their seven away games, though they did turn those into four points, while the Gas are far better at home than on the road, with 13 points from seven games.

Crawley have won just one of 13 league games going back to August, though they only lost one of their past four and could move above the dotted line with a win.

If they do it will be their first ever at the Mem, having taken only two points from their first six visits.

Directly below Bristol Rovers are Blackpool and Northampton who meet at Bloomfield Road.

These two have near identical records with the Cobblers sitting above the Tangerines on goal difference alone, just four points clear of the drop zone.

Town only have one win from their seven games on the road, though they snatched a dramatic point at Birmingham last weekend, while Blackpool have won only two of their seven at home.

Vale aiming to get back on track

Darren Moore is seeking to steer Port Vale back to winning ways

Bottom host top in League Two as Morecambe play Port Vale, with the Shrimps coming off the back of just their second win of the campaign, while Vale suffered just their third defeat last Saturday.

Second-placed Walsall's game at home to Gillingham, four points behind in eighth, is off, meaning Notts County, in third, could leapfrog them, and maybe even take over at the top, if they can win at fifth-placed Crewe.

The Magpies are one of three unbeaten teams on the road in the top four tiers of English football along with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Fourth-placed Doncaster are the third side locked on 27 points and host Salford while at the other end there are a couple of huge games as third-bottom Swindon head to 18th-placed Accrington while second-bottom Carlisle, in the drop zone, make the long trip to Bromley, who lie 19th just four points ahead.