Peter Taylor’s side enter the weekend occupying 12th place in the Vanarama National League table, but have not featured in the competition since the 2-0 defeat to Notts County a fortnight ago, due to cup engagements and the postponement of the fixture away at Stockport County.
Prior to the Notts County defeat, the Daggers were on an 11-match unbeaten run, and will now look to embark on a new winning streak beginning with the arrival of the Welsh visitors.
The Opposition
Wrexham have struggled this season, approaching Saturday’s clash in 21st place on 16 points. The Dragons, did, however, manage to prolong their FA Cup run with a 1-0 replay win against Chesterfield after the initial match had ended 1-1.
Saturday’s guests are winless in their last four National League matches, although they did secure important draws against Woking and Harrogate.
Daggers XI vs Carshalton: Justham, Wright, Onariase (Grant 59’), Croll, Gordon, Brundle, Robinson, McQueen (Kandi 59’), Dobson (Luque 82’), Balanta, Quigley
Unused Subs: Strizovic, Eleftheriou, Wood, Graham.
Wrexham XI vs Chesterfield: Lainton, Jennings ©, Lawlor, Chambers, Horsfield, Barton, Wright (Summerfield 86’), Redmond (Young 70’), Rutherford, Grant, Hooper (Harris 67’).
Unused subs: Dibble, Tollitt, Oswell, Carrington.
The Manager:
After a tough start to the season saw Wrexham parted ways with Brian Hughes, Dean Keates was appointed manager for a second spell in charge of the club. The Walsall native managed his home club from 2018-2019 before returning to the Racecourse Ground in September.
Keates’ Walsall side struggled in League One with the manager departing in April before the club’s eventual relegation to League Two.
Ones to Watch:
Bobby Grant:
After scoring just twice last season, the midfielder has been on fire this term, already finding the net seven times at an impressive ratio of one goal every 182 minutes.
The former Fleetwood Town star presents a dangerous threat from the middle of the pitch and has the experience to cause any side problems.
JJ Hooper:
The Newcastle United youth product was signed from Barrow in the summer after a hugely successful loan spell for the National League club that included a memorable five-minute hat-trick in the Kent Senior Cup.
Hooper scored on his Dragons debut and notched the crucial winner against Chesterfield on Tuesday night to send his side to the first round of the FA Cup.
James Jennings:
The experienced defender has been a mainstay at the back for Wrexham since his arrival in 2017 and this season has been no different, with the 32-year old already making 17 appearances.
Tenacious and full of energy, Jennings will be relied upon if Wrexham are to get their season back on track.
