Wrexham host West Brom at Racecourse Ground in Championship test
Key takeaways
- Wrexham host West Brom at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night. Kickoff is at 7:45 pm BST.
- Wrexham sit 15th with 11 points. West Brom sit ninth, three points ahead.
- Wrexham have a long injury list. West Brom have lost their last two games 1-0.
Wrexham host West Brom at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night. The game is in the Championship, the second tier of English football. Kickoff is at 7:45 pm BST.
It is a big night for two teams that need a win.
Wrexham sit 15th with 11 points from nine games. West Brom sit ninth with 14 points. Only three points split them.
The winner will climb the table fast.
What happened
Both teams come in off poor results. Wrexham drew 1-1 at Derby County on Saturday. They were behind from the ninth minute.
Sam Szmodics scored for Derby. Wrexham grabbed a point late. Oliver Rathbone scored two minutes from time.
West Brom lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham City on Saturday. August Priske scored a penalty just before half time. That was the whole story.
It was West Brom's second 1-0 loss in a row. They had lost 1-0 at Wolves before the break.
The team news is full of injuries. Wrexham will likely miss Max Cleworth, Liberato Cacace, George Thomason, and Nathan Broadhead. All four have injury problems.
Josh Windass is also out. He hurt his ankle at Derby. Scans showed ligament damage.
Manager Phil Parkinson said it was not as bad as first feared. Rathbone should take his place in the starting side.
West Brom miss Mikey Johnston with a long-term injury. Nolan Galves is also out with an injury from September. Their attack will lean on Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
He has five goals and three assists in all games. He joined the club in the summer.
The likely lineups are out. Wrexham may start with Patterson in goal. Vyner, Worrall, and Hyam could form the back three.
Imray, Whiteman, O'Brien, and Ekomie could play in midfield. Rathbone, O'Hare, and Moore could lead the attack.
West Brom may start with O'Leary in goal. Pereira, Phillips, Mepham, and Styles could defend. Nzingoula, Diakite, Collyer, and Price could play in midfield.
Heggebo and Morgan could lead the attack. These are predicted sides, not confirmed ones.
Fans in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports+. Kickoff is at 7:45 pm BST on Tuesday.
Why it matters
Wrexham need to find form fast. They have two wins, five draws, and two losses this season. Five draws in nine games is a lot.
Draws keep a team in mid-table. They do not lift a team up the table. Last season, Wrexham finished seventh.
They missed the play-offs by one place and two points. This season, they want to go one step further.
Their recent run shows the problem. They lost 6-0 at West Ham before the break. They then beat Southampton at home.
They then drew at Derby. That run has no steady rhythm. A home win on Tuesday would give them one.
West Brom need to stop a slide. They started the season well. They won four of their first seven games.
They took 14 points from those games. They let in only seven goals in that run. Then came two 1-0 losses.
The attack has dried up. They have failed to score in both games. A third blank would raise fresh questions.
The game also matters for the play-off race. West Brom sit ninth but trail the top eight on goal difference alone. A win would put them back in the top six hunt.
Wrexham sit four points above the drop zone. A win would give them room to breathe. A loss would drag them closer to trouble.
The head-to-head also adds spice. Imray spent part of last season on loan with West Brom. He may face his old club on Tuesday.
Small stories like that often shape big nights.
What happens next
The winner will take a lift into the next round of games. The Championship moves fast. Teams play twice a week at this stage.
Points now ease the pressure later. A draw would help neither side much. Both will want all three points.
Wrexham will hope their injury list starts to shrink. Cleworth, Cacace, Thomason, and Broadhead are all key players. Their return would ease the load on the rest.
West Brom will hope their attack wakes up. Morgan has carried much of the load. He needs help from those around him.
For the other Championship tie on Tuesday night, read our Wolves vs Bolton preview. For more English football this week, see Coventry's 4-1 win over Newcastle. For a big win from the Premier League, read Man City's 3-0 win at Liverpool.
Tuesday night at the Racecourse is a test of nerve. Wrexham have home backing and a point to prove. West Brom have quality and a need to end their losing run.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,