Wrexham vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups
Wrexham vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups
A place in a Wembley final will be on the line when Wrexham welcome fellow League One side Peterborough United to the Racecourse Ground for Wednesday's EFL Trophy semi-final.
The hosts are looking to win the competition for the first time in 20 years, while the visitors want to retain the trophy that they won last season.
Match preview
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Wrexham's main priority for the season is their league campaign, with the Red Dragons in the hunt to secure a third consecutive promotion.
Phil Parkinson's side are sitting in third position and three points adrift of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, having won 18, drawn seven and lost seven of their 32 league matches this season.
The Red Dragons enjoyed a successful trip to the One Call Stadium on Sunday, edging out Mansfield Town via a 2-1 scoreline thanks to an early own goal and Max Cleworth's 58th-minute winner.
Wrexham will now put their promotion bid on hold to focus on their bid to win the EFL Trophy for the second time in their history and the first time since 2004-05 when they beat Southend United in the final.
They are competing in the last four after recording knockout round wins over Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale, before beating Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in their home quarter-final clash earlier this month.
Wednesday's hosts are looking to beat Peterborough for the third time this season after they followed a 2-0 away win in August with a narrow 1-0 victory in January's home clash.
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In contrast to their opponents, Peterborough are battling to preserve their League One status, with Posh languishing in 20th position and just two points above the drop zone.
Darren Ferguson's charges will at least head into Wednesday's fixture in a positive mood following Saturday's successful away meeting with Huddersfield Town.
Hector Kyprianou's first-half effort proved enough to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory, bringing an end to Peterborough's 14-game winless away league run as well as ending the wait for their first away clean sheet of the League One season.
Posh are now preparing to head on their travels for the first time in the 2024-25 EFL Trophy knockout rounds, after they eliminated Northampton Town, Walsall and Cheltenham Town in home encounters, scoring 10 goals across those three matches.
Peterborough will have fond memories of last season's semi-final clash against Blackpool, which saw them run out 3-0 winners on their way to winning the EFL Trophy for the second time in their history.
If they can see off Wrexham, Posh would be just one game away from becoming joint-record winners alongside Bristol City, who are currently out on their own with three EFL Trophy wins to their name.
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Team News
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Wrexham are unable to call upon Luke Bolton, Callum Burton and Will Boyle, while it remains to be seen whether Elliot Lee will be ready to feature in the matchday squad.
Midfielder Andy Cannon is set for a spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off with a knee injury in Sunday's win over Mansfield.
Matty James is set to replace Cannon in the Wrexham lineup, while there may also be starting opportunities for Ryan Barnett and Jack Marriott.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Gustav Lindgren, Kwame Poku, Jadel Katongo and Rio Adebisi.
Emmanuel Fernandez will return to the matchday squad with his fourth-match suspension not applicable to the EFL Trophy.
Donay O'Brien Brady, George Nevett and Chris Conn-Clarke could come into the starting lineup if Ferguson opts to freshen up his side.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor; Barnett, Dobson, James, Rathbone, Revan; Marriott, Smith
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Steer; O'Brien-Brady, Fernandez, Wallin, Nevett; Kyprianou, Collins; Odoh, Conn-Clarke, Mothersille; Jones
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