Wrexham's play-off hopes assessed ahead of 10-game run-in

Wrexham's Championship play-off hopes took a hit as they were beaten 2-1 by fellow promotion rivals Hull City.

Defeat brought an end to the Red Dragons' three-game winning run in the league, although Phil Parkinson's men remain in sixth place with 10 matches still to play this season.

Their push to clinch a top six spot resumes on Friday night as they host Welsh rivals Swansea City at Stok Cae Ras (20:00 GMT).

BBC Sport Wales takes a closer look at the current state of play as far as the Welsh side's play-off hopes are concerned.

Prior to the remaining midweek Championship fixtures on Wednesday night, Wrexham still have a three-point gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

Southampton have a game in hand and still look to be a strong contender to secure a top six spot while Derby County currently sit seventh.

In terms of the run-in, Wrexham next face a Swansea side who have been transformed since Vitor Matos took charge in mid-November.

They then face three successive away games against Watford, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion before returning to north Wales to host Southampton in what could be a pivotal contest in the race for the top six.

Trips to Birmingham City and Oxford United are sandwiched by a home meeting with Stoke City.

And the final two outings of the season are far from simple as Wrexham travel to league leaders Coventry City before hosting second-placed Middlesbrough on the final day of the regular season - although the Red Dragons claimed four points in total from the reverse fixtures.

It means just four of their remaining 10 matches are at home, although the Red Dragons' away form of late has been sublime.

They have taken 16 points from their past six league games on their travels and have the sixth-best away record in the Championship this season.

It also means they face six sides currently in the top-half, highlighting the testing nature of the remainder of their schedule.

The Opta Analyst data model says Wrexham - currently on 57 points - are expected to end the campaign on 70.69 points.

And they believe that will be enough to secure sixth place, with the Saints predicted to end the campaign on 70.04 points.

News of Kieffer Moore's injury served as a real blow to the Red Dragons.

The striker, the side's top scorer this season with 13 goals across all competitions, missed the Hull defeat having sustained a split tendon. Parkinson has confirmed it is very possible he could be unavailable until after the international break.

It was also confirmed that left wing-back Liberato Cacace has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Parkinson was already juggling a number of other issues too.

Wrexham were without George Dobson against the Tigers due to suspension - with the midfielder also unavailable for the fixtures against Swansea and Watford.

It added to the club's midfield concerns as Ben Sheaf is already sidelined with a season-ending knee injury and Matty James has recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a toe injury.

Ollie Rathbone is also having his minutes managed due to an ongoing groin problem.

Elsewhere in the squad, Issa Kabore came off the bench in the 70th minute against Hull but is continuing to be carefully managed having had his own injury concerns this season.

But it's fair to say injuries are mounting for Wrexham at a point where quality of depth is arguably at its most pivotal due to the magnitude of the upcoming schedule.

Crucially, Wrexham's destiny remains in their own hands, thanks to their strong campaign overall so far.

And Parkinson says his side must relish the opportunity they have ahead of them.

"We've got to dig deep as a group, which we will do. We're in a great position still," Parkinson said.

"I think we've just got to take a step back and say, with 10 games to go, to be in the play-off position, we would have been delighted with that at the start of the season.

"Of course it's sometimes hard to be positive in defeat, especially against a team who were there for us to go above.

"But it's happened. 10 games to go, we're in a play-off position and we've got to make the most of this opportunity, starting with Friday night."