There is a cracker to start 2025 with in League One as promotion candidates Barnsley and Wrexham square up at Oakwell.
Hosts Barnsley continue to push for the play-offs in the third tier and are fresh from away wins at Bolton and Peterborough at the end of 2024.
But Wrexham are in contention for automatic promotion and beyond and they themselves enjoyed back-to-back wins over Christmas, beating Blackpool and Wigan at the Racecourse Ground.
It makes for an intriguing contest in South Yorkshire, where Barnsley are 5/4 to win, the draw is 12/5 and a Wrexham victory is 2/1.
Draw/Wrexham Half Time/Full Time - 6/1
Birmingham are the pacesetters in the League One title race this season but Wrexham are hot on their heels heading into their opening match of 2025.
Phil Parkinson's men enjoyed a promising end to the year with 2-1 wins over both Blackpool and Wigan, meaning they have won 14 of their 23 league fixtures this season.
They are on course for automatic promotion to the Championship and they can lay down another marker with victory away to play-off hopefuls Barnsley.
Wrexham beat Barnsley 1-0 at the Racecourse Ground as recently as the start of December but they were made to work for victory, netting the winner via Oliver Rathbone after 92 minutes.
And they may once again need to be patient when these sides square up at Oakwell.
Wrexham have been level at half-time and gone on to win in five of their last seven assignments in League One.
Wrexham are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions and should have the edge but punters should expect Barnsley to put up a fight.
Over 2.5 goals - 1/1
Defensive resilience has been key to Wrexham's title push this season but they have struggled for clean sheets recently and there could be goals in this clash at Oakwell.
Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in three of Wrexham's last four matches and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four games.
Barnsley should therefore be confident of contributing to a high-scoring game given that they have scored 34 times in 23 matches this term - just one less goal than their Welsh opponents.
At 1/1, backing overs is the way to go.
Steven Fletcher to score at anytime - 11/4
There has not been a standout source of goals for Wrexham this season.
Paul Mullin has not been as prolific as he was in lower divisions and more recently it has been veteran forward Steven Fletcher who has stepped up to the plate.
The 37-year-old was on target in both of the recent wins over Wigan and Blackpool, scoring late in those two contests, and he also scored in the 2-2 draw with Cambridge earlier in December.
Fletcher has scored four times in League One this term, is on penalty duty for Wrexham and looks a decent price at 11/4 to find the net in a free-flowing game with Barnsley.
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Barnsley - 5/4
Draw - 12/5
Wrexham - 2/1
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.