Wrexham manager Bryan Hughes.

Home Sweet Home For League Leaders Wrexham FC

Wrexham love playing at home and they know it will be a special feeling when they run out to play Chesterfield at the Racecourse this afternoon (Saturday, 3pm).

The Dragons have just completed a 1,400 miles, three-match trek, playing three successive away matches at Havant, Boreham Wood and Gateshead.

Manager Bryan Hughes and his League-leading team earned seven points on their travels and now entertain Chesterfield.

Wrexham expect a bumper attendance and winger Ben Tollitt says: “People underestimate how much the support helps. It is such a boost.”

More than 8,200 spectators were at the Racecourse when Tollitt made his Dragons debut against Salford City and he says: “To get anything along the lines of the Salford game would be brilliant and the fact there could be even more people is great.

“It was a brilliant atmosphere against Salford, my first game.

“For this league it is too good. You wouldn’t expect that many fans to come in.

“There are not many other clubs in this league that could do that so fair play to the fans.”

Wrexham are two points clear at the top of Vanarama National League are are unbeaten in the four matches since he took charge of the team.

Chesterfield and Wrexham last played each other in October when they drew 1-1 after Brad Walker had put the Dragons ahead from a penalty.

This is a fixture that has been played out for almost a century, first starting back in 1921. That opening game kicked off an historic list of matches that would see some huge encounters over the years, with Wrexham taking the first game in with a 6-1 win at the Cae Ras.

The highest profile match-up came in 1997 with both sides on unbelievable runs that saw the two third tier teams reach the The tie was at Saltergate and Chris Beaumont’s 58th minute goal put Chesterfield through to the semi-finals where they played Middlesbrough.

Before the League match at Saltergate in October it had been more than 10 years since the clubs last met. Chesterfield won 2-1 in January 2008 and Wrexham’s last win was way back in 2005. 

In 113 games, Chesterfield lead the head-to-head series with 51 victories to Wrexham’s 37 and 25 draws.

Today, Wrexham will be without Manny Smith, who is out injured, while Shaun Pearson, Rob Lainton, Luke Summerfield, Bobby Grant and Kevin Roberts will be assessed before kick-off.

Stuart Beavon should be available to return.

Wrexham in National League

P W D L GD PTS
1 Wrexham 35 19 9 7 +19 66
2 Solihull M 34 19 7 8 +23 64
3 Leyton Orient 33 17 10 6 +29 61
4 AFC Fylde 34 16 12 6 +28 60
5 Eastleigh 34 17 7 10 +2 58

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