Preview:Wrexham vs West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Wrexham's meteoric rise is set to hit a new milestone on Saturday, when the Welsh club welcome West Bromwich Albion to the Racecourse Ground for their first Championship home game.

The Red Dragons will be hoping to put their first points on the board, while the Baggies are looking to build on their win last time out.

Match preview

Phil Parkinson's Wrexham have enjoyed one of the most followed climbs up the football pyramid since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the club, and fans are sure to be excited about playing in the second tier.

However, the Red Dragons were denied an opening weekend win when they were beaten 2-1 by Southampton last Saturday, and the manager will be keen to stamp out the lapses of concentration that saw his team hold onto the lead for almost 70 minutes only to concede twice beyond the 90-minute mark.

That defeat has Parkinson's side 17th in the table, and they will have their work cut for them to move towards the upper reaches of the division this term.

On the other hand, Wrexham did get back to winning ways in midweek with a penalty shootout victory over fellow Championship club Hull City in the EFL Cup, thanks to a pair of stoppage-time strikes from Ollie Palmer that levelled the score at 3-3.

Despite the major leap in quality that the Red Dragons are up against in 2025-26, fans could take heart from their club's reputation as a formidable opponent at the Racecourse Ground, and given that they are unbeaten across their last seven home games - winning five and drawing two - they could get off the mark on Saturday.

Meanwhile, West Brom fell just short of the playoffs in 2024-25, but starting this season with back-to-back Championship wins under Ryan Mason would set the tone for their campaign.

On matchday one, the Baggies took all three points in a 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers, a result that could be crucial by May.

That being said, while Mason's men have established some momentum in the league, they were knocked out of the League Cup by Derby County, a disappointment considering that the Rams barely avoided relegation last term.

Considering that their team are playing on the road this weekend, the travelling supporters will rightfully be doubting their side's chances due to their shockingly poor away record and their current winless run across all competitions that stretches back to November 2024.

Another three points would likely push West Brom into the top six on Saturday, and breaking their winless streak could inspire them to maintain their form and finally earn promotion back to the Premier League.

Wrexham Championship form:

Wrexham form (all competitions):

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):

Team News

Wrexham will be without a number of players this weekend due to injury and fitness issues, including forwards Jay Rodriguez and Kieffer Moore, so expect to see Sam Smith join Josh Windass up top.

Likewise, midfielders Andy Cannon, George Thomason and Oliver Rathbone are not available for Saturday's clash, though George Dobson, Matty James and Lewis O'Brien should be ready to start in the centre of the park.

As for West Brom, right-back Darnell Furlong should return to the XI after serving a suspension in the League Cup, and he should join a back four featuring Nat Phillips, Torbjorn Heggem and Callum Styles.

However, this weekend's trip to Wales comes too early for strikers Daryl Dike and Tammer Bany, and Aune Selland Heggebo is likely to continue at centre-forward, with Tom Fellows and Karlan Grant supporting him from out wide.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Ward; Cleworth, Coady, Brunt; Barnett, Dobson, James, O'Brien, Cacace; Windass, Smith

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Price, Grant; Heggebo