Wrexham's Premier League Destiny Hangs on These Four Must-Win Matches

The clock is ticking for Wrexham as they fight to keep alive their remarkable bid for a fourth straight promotion.

Phil Parkinson's squad have already surpassed expectations in their first Championship campaign since 1982, and are virtually guaranteed to achieve their best-ever league finish. There will be much to celebrate regardless of how the final four games play out, but Wrexham haven't abandoned their playoff ambitions just yet.

Wrexham enter their weekend home fixture against Stoke City with something to prove, having failed to win in five of their last seven outings. The most recent setback came at Birmingham City last weekend, when the Red Dragons delivered what many consider their poorest display of the campaign.

That result leaves Wrexham seventh in the Championship standings, four points adrift of the final playoff spot, requiring something of a miracle to close the gap over the remaining four games.

Wrexham Standings: EFL Championship With Four Matches Remaining

Wrexham are placed seventh, having accumulated 64 points from 42 matches this season. While 12 points remain available, climbing into sixth place appears to be the only realistic route for Phil Parkinson's men to secure a playoff berth.

Coventry City need just a single point to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League, while Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are all competing for the remaining automatic promotion place. Meanwhile, Hull City, Wrexham and Derby County are locked in a battle for sixth and the last available playoff spot.

Hull hold the advantage with 68 points, four clear of Wrexham on 64, with Derby County a further point back in eighth on 63. Wrexham must therefore bridge a four-point gap on Hull City across the final four fixtures to have any realistic hope of breaking into the top six.

What Wrexham Need from Remaining Championship Fixtures

Wrexham appear to face the toughest run-in of the three clubs competing for sixth place. It begins this weekend with a home clash against Stoke City in North Wales. The Potters claimed a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture back in October and have won 17 of the previous 18 encounters between the sides.

Following that, they travel to relegation-threatened Oxford United, who have lost just once in their last eight matches. The schedule doesn't ease up, with a visit to Coventry City on what could be their title-lifting day, before a final-day home encounter with fifth-placed Middlesbrough.

Hull City remain the clear frontrunners for sixth, though their remaining schedule is far from straightforward. The Tigers welcome Birmingham this weekend before travelling to face relegation-threatened Leicester City the following Tuesday. They then visit 18th-place Charlton Athletic before hosting in-form Norwich City on the final day.

Derby County appear to have the more manageable fixtures, though they face a five-point deficit to overcome. They host Oxford United this weekend and travel to Norwich City next Tuesday, rounding off the season with a trip to mid-table Queens Park Rangers and a home game against Sheffield United.

Hull City need nine points from their remaining four matches to guarantee a playoff place and extinguish Wrexham's Premier League aspirations for now.

Read the Latest Wrexham News, Analysis and Insight From SI FC

Rich Fay is a Sports Illustrated freelance writer covering Wrexham AFC. He was born in Wrexham and raised in North Wales, but spent nine years covering Manchester United and Manchester City for the Manchester Evening News and National World. Rich is also the co-host of the RobRyanRed Wrexham podcast and featured in the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries. When he is not at matches, he is a keen hiker as well as a cook, and thinks he would do surprisingly well on the Great British Bake Off.