After narrowly missing out on the play-offs last season, sitting 15th after nine games is not how Wrexham and their ambitious owners will have envisioned the start of this Championship campaign going.
That lowly position does not tell the full story, however, with the Red Dragons’ tricky fixture list a big reason why they have started slowly.
A few more wins would have been nice, but Phil Parkinson’s side have performed well enough in difficult fixtures to suggest the points will roll in sooner rather than later.
There is every chance that becomes true as soon as Tuesday, too, when they take on a faltering West Brom at the Racecourse Ground.
Wrexham v West Brom Tips Summary
Best Bet - Wrexham to win @ 5/4
Alternative Bet - One or both teams not to score @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Danny Imray 1+ shots, Brayann Pereira to be booked, Isaac Price 1+ shots @ 13/2
Wrexham v West Brom Prediction
Best Bet: Wrexham to win @ 5/4
Yes, 11 points from nine games is a touch underwhelming. However, Wrexham have had to face promotion candidates West Ham United, Burnley, Southampton, Millwall and Birmingham City as well as in-form Swansea City in that run, so perhaps that haul is not all bad.
Wins over Southampton and Millwall show there is still real quality at Parkinson’s disposal and one loss in six home matches suggests that the Racecourse effect will have a big say on proceedings.
West Brom also find themselves in the polar camp to Wrexham. The Baggies started well, beating Norwich City and Burnley, but their three games against quality sides - Middlesbrough, Wolves and, most recently on Saturday, Birmingham - have ended in defeat.
James Morrison’s side seem to struggle in games against promotion contenders and that trend is likely to continue in Wales.
Alternative Bet: One or both teams not to score @ 10/11
Those less confident in Wrexham’s chances - understandable after their latest setback in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at lowly Derby County - should consider backing one or both teams not to score.
That covers the base of a 0-0 draw, which is a viable outcome given both sides are more than capable of digging in defensively, but also a narrow victory for either team.
Both of these sides rank in the Championship’s bottom seven for expected goals, so a tight, low-scoring encounter at the Racecourse seems likely, especially with West Brom losing their last two matches 1-0.
Wrexham v West Brom Bet Builder Tip
Danny Imray 1+ shots
Brayann Pereira to be booked
Isaac Price 1+ shots
Pays 13/2
Wrexham should go on the front foot as they bid to follow up a win over Southampton in their last home game with another positive Racecourse result. That should lead to plenty of chances for marauding full-back Danny Imray, who has fired off five shots in as many games and will be eager to impress against his former side.
On the other flank, Brayann Pereira looks set to struggle. The French defender hadn’t been seen since being sent off on his Championship debut for West Brom in early September but was thrust back into the 11 on Saturday due to an injury crisis at right-back.
Pereira looked out of his depth against Birmingham and may struggle when facing another quality team, making him the prime card candidate in Wales.
West Brom are the unfancied of this pair but it would be dismissive to say they won’t have a shot or two, one of which is likely to come via Isaac Price.
The Northern Ireland international scored three times in two appearances against Wrexham last term, has managed six shots in his last three Baggies outings and will be raring to go after starting Saturday’s defeat at St Andrew’s on the bench.
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Key Match Stats
Wrexham have lost only two of their last 11 Championship home games
West Brom have lost three of their last four away matches
Only one of the Baggies’ last five games has seen both teams score
West Brom have won just two of their last eight matches
No Championship goalkeeper is making more saves per 90 minutes than West Brom’s Max O’Leary (3.7)
Wrexham have lost just two of their last nine games
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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.
