Wrexham play Chesterfield at home this evening – and the same teams clash again in a cup tie on Saturday.
The Spireites, from Derbyshire, play a Vanarama National League match at the Racecourse tonight, while the Dragons travel to the Proact Stadium for an Emirates FA Cup tie on Saturday.
“It has to be three points at home,” says manager Dean Keates. “Sometimes if you draw away it’s not too bad, must win at home.
“We’ll deal with the League game first and then get ourselves ready for Saturday.
Keates’ Wrexham defeated St Mirren Colts 4-1 in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup last weekend and qualified for the quarter-finals.
“It’s momentum – a win’s a win, it doesn’t matter what competition it is,” said Keates. “I wasn’t impressed with the first half at all, but second half the players upped their game and it was a lot better. Something to build on.
▶️ ICYMI | We caught up with Luke Young earlier ahead of the @ChesterfieldFC game.
Here 👉🏻 https://t.co/haHQmPdWGM
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) October 15, 2019
“Ben Tollitt was probably the stand-out player during the second-half. That was Ben’s first 90 minutes of the season and Devonte Redmond was the same.”
Wrexham will one without JJ Hooper against Chesterfield, although he is is almost ready to join in full training, while Mark Carrington is also making progress.
“Carra’s not far away,” said Keates. “He had a little niggle from the Woking game when he came off.
“Rob (Lainton) played the full 90 minutes against St Mirren so we’re not too far from a fully fit squad.
Keates described the team performance against St Mirren as ‘nowhere near good enough’ even though they won 4-1.
He made 11 changes to the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw against Harrogate and had seven youth team players on the bench.
“It wasn’t good enough, nowhere near good enough first half,” says Keates. “We didn’t really push through the gears, we didn’t get going.”
Leighton McIntosh scored twice for Wrexham against St Mirren Colts to reach the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup quarter-finals.
After a goalless first half, Redmond scored almost immediately after half-time and McIntosh doubled the lead from a penalty.
Jay Henderson pulled one back for St Mirren before McIntosh and Ben Tollitt completed the win.
The draw is to be made on Wednesday (1pm).
Clubs and numbers in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup draw:
1 Solihull Moors or Rangers Colts
2 Wrexham
3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
4 Partick Thistle
5 Raith Rovers
6 Stenhousemuir
7 Clyde
8 Elgin City
The remaining fourth round match between Solihull Moors and Rangers Colts will be played on Tuesday, October 29 (7.45pm).
Quarter-final ties are scheduled for the weekend of November 16/17.
Wrexham: (v St Mirren, 4-4-2): Lainton, Tharme, Cleworth, Chambers, Beaumont, Jones, Wright, Redmond, Tollitt (Huxley 90), Bickerstaff (Robinson-Murray 78), McIntosh. Subs no used: Szczepaniak, Humphreys, Parry, Nash, S Williams.
St Mirren Colts: (4-3-3): Lyness, Grant (L Jamieson 59), Glover, McAllister, Erhahon, McBrearty, MacPherson, Gray, Henderson, Jack (McCaw 86), Breadner (Reilly 82). Subs: Law, Walker, Girvan, Frew.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Ireland)
Attendance: 1,468 (away 170)
JD Cymru Premier club Connah’s Quay Nomads lost 2-0 against Partick Thistle in the last 16 in front of 1,380 spectators at the EnergyCheck Stadium, Firhill thanks to goals from Raffaele De Vita (34 mins) and James Penrice (77).
Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup last 16 results: Wrexham 4, St Mirren (u-21) 1; Partick Thistle 2, Connah’s Quay Nomads 0; Arbroath 0, Clyde 2; Airdrieonians 0, Elgin City 2; Raith Rovers 3, Glenavon 1; Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3, Alloa Athletic 0; Stenhousemuir 3, Waterford 2.
To be played: Solihull Moors v Rangers Colts (Tuesday, October 29).