Wrexham set for one last push against Middlesbrough

Phil Parkinson says Wrexham will be ready for their crunch fixture with Middlesbrough after achieving their previous goal of taking the Championship play-off race down to the wire.

The Red Dragons were four points adrift of the top six with four matches left to play this season.

But, despite losing 3-1 to champions Coventry City, Wrexham head into their contest with Boro at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday, 2 May (12:30 BST) in sixth place.

"A few weeks ago we were four points adrift and the aim was to go right to the wire in the battle to get into the play-offs," said Parkinson.

"With over 45 games gone, we've achieved that. We're all set for next week."

With one match of the regular season left to play, Wrexham sit above seventh-placed Hull City on goal difference and a point clear of Derby County who are eighth.

It is a scenario boss Parkinson says his side would have taken "all day long".

And Ollie Rathbone - who netted his eighth goal of the campaign across all competitions in the loss at Coventry - says his side's disappointment at losing to Frank Lampard's champions typifies the improvement Wrexham have made over the course of the second tier season.

"At the start of the season, everyone would have taken this scenario," said Rathbone.

"It shows how much the team has evolved that we've come to the best team in the division and we're disappointed that we've not taken anything away.

"I'm hugely proud of that growth, but ultimately it's disappointing today."

Depending on the outcome of Tuesday night's crunch fixture between Southampton and Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough - who are already guaranteed a play-off spot - could head to north Wales next weekend still in the running for automatic promotion.

But midfielder Rathbone says his side must focus solely on earning three points against Kim Hellberg's side to give themselves the best possible chance of extending their own campaign.

"There's so many permutations where you're looking at other results. They're intense," added Rathbone.

"I think you've just got to try and be as calm as possible, play the game as you would normally and hope you've done enough.

"I think over the 45 games we've built a reputation that we'll give everyone a game.

"We'll just go at it full blast and hopefully we'll be celebrating after."