Preview: Wrexham vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams at opposing ends of the League One table are set to come face to face on Saturday afternoon when promotion-hopefuls Wrexham take on relegation-threatened Peterborough United.

The hosts are third in the league table with 48 points from 24 matches, while the visitors are 18th in the standings with 25 points from their 23 fixtures.

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Match preview

Wrexham have enjoyed a remarkable few years as they have rapidly climbed up the English footballing pyramid, earning promotion from the National League in 2022-23 and League Two in 2023-24.

While many tipped Wrexham to finally struggle in League One after back-to-back promotions, Phil Parkinson's side have embraced the challenge and are once again embroiled in the battle for promotion.

The Red Dragons are third in the division with 48 points from their 24 matches to date, after 14 wins, six draws and four losses, leaving them two points behind the top two, though they have played more times than those above them, and five points ahead of fourth-placed Huddersfield Town.

Parkinson's men did suffer a disappointing loss to Barnsley in their last outing, bringing an end to their nine-game unbeaten run, a result that they will be eager to bounce back from so to not fall behind the top two in the automatic promotion race.

Wrexham will be confident of doing exactly that, as they boast the best home record of any team in the league this term, having won 11 and drawn two of their 13 home matches.

As for Peterborough United, they have endured a miserable first half to the 2024-25 season as they sit 18th in the table with 25 points from 23 matches, leaving them just five points ahead of the drop zone.

That marks a hugely disappointing campaign compared to their previous two seasons in League One, where they finished sixth in 2022-23, losing on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff semi-finals after dramatically squandering a 4-0 first-leg lead to draw 5-5 on aggregate, and placed fourth in 2023-24, only to lose 2-1 to Oxford United in the playoff semi-finals.

They have now lost six of their last eight league matches, alongside one win and one draw, a run of form that manager Darren Ferguson will be eager to improve upon starting with this game.

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Team News

Despite suffering a rare defeat to Barnsley in their last match, a largely encouraging performance could see Parkinson opt to name a similar side for this one.

Arthur Okonkwo has returned to the bench in Wrexham's last two games after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, and the keeper could be in contention for a return to the starting team here.

As for Peterborough Utd, top scorer Kwame Poku has been absent from the squad since coming off with an injury in a 1-0 defeat to Burton Albion at the beginning of December, and the forward is unlikely to return here.

Elsewhere, after coming from 2-0 down to secure a crucial point against relegation-rivals Burton Albion last time out, Ferguson could opt to name a similar side in this one.

Wrexham possible starting lineup: Okonkwo; Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor; Barnett, Dobson, James, Rathbone, McClean; Palmer, Mullin

Peterborough United possible starting lineup: Bilokapic; Wallin, Fernandez, Nevett; Curtis, Kyprianou, Collins, Hayes; Conn-Clarke; Mothersille, Jones

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We say: Wrexham 2-0 Peterborough United

The hosts will be eager to bounce back from defeat in their last outing, and with them boasting the best record of any side in the division when playing at home, we believe Wrexham will secure the win here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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