Wrexham Match Preview
As a football supporter, the busiest time in the season is usually the festive period. However, with eight extra games in the Sky Bet Championship, they do come thick and fast. Having said that though, I for one can’t remember West Ham United having a busier time than they have had this early in the season. They face their third game in six days tonight, as Wrexham are the visitors to Stratford.
Since actors Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds became joint owners in 2021, Phil Parkinson’s side have enjoyed three successive promotions from 2023 to 2025, but despite continuing to attract players with a wealth of experience to the club, they are currently finding life a bit of a struggle in the second-tier.
The Red Dragons have only earned one win this season and while that may be music to the ears of every Hammers’ fan, they will be well aware of the fact that it came in London against Millwall just nine days ago. West Ham’s August struggles have been well- publicised, as they only picked up victories in the Carabao Cup against fellow Championship sides Portsmouth and Southampton. However, it’s been an altogether different story since the start of September. Nuno Espírito Santo’s men are currently on a run of three consecutive wins and they will want to build on that here.
Neither team has an advantage in terms of preparation ahead of this game, as both last played three days ago. The Irons were involved in a topsy-turvy encounter against newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers at The Toughsheet Community Stadium which they eventually won 3-2, whereas Wrexham drew 1-1 at home to Burnley.
The East Londoners briefly went top after their victory in the North-West and they will know that should they pick up maximum points tonight, then they will return to the summit and be able to enjoy the weekend’s other results.
The Portuguese Head-Coach made four changes against the Trotters earlier this week and he is likely to rotate once more with Joël Piroe and Manor Solomon expected to return. On the other hand, Kyle Walker- Peters may once again be preferred to Joël Veltman. Arne Engels celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday and having got the perfect present from his team on the day, he will also be hoping for a belated one here.
It was confirmed in the club’s pre-match news conference on Thursday that Valentín Castellanos will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he can play any part here after he missed the encounter against Steven Schumacher’s men due to a tendon injury, while Morato and Adama Boiro are still waiting for their full debuts.
For the second time in a matter of days, the match is an 8pm kick-off and the East Londoners will again be televised on Sky Sports with coverage starting at 7pm. The referee is Sam Barrott.