Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Championship 2025/26

On: November 28, 2025 12:00 AM

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Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Match Preview

The Racecourse Ground prepares for a historic Championship encounter this Saturday as high-flying Wrexham welcome struggling Blackburn Rovers to North Wales. Phil Parkinson’s Red Dragons are in dreamland, sitting 10th in the table and unbeaten in their last seven league games. Fresh off a professional 2-0 midweek win over Bristol City, the mood in Wrexham is one of fearless optimism as they eye the playoff places.

In stark contrast, Blackburn Rovers arrive under a cloud. Valérien Ismaël’s side sits 18th, just above the danger zone, and suffered a damaging 0-1 home defeat to QPR on Wednesday. With a defensive injury crisis deepening and confidence fragile, Rovers face a daunting task against a Wrexham side that has turned their home ground into a fortress. Can the Lancashire side spoil the Welsh party, or will Wrexham’s momentum prove unstoppable?

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers
Competition: EFL Championship (Matchday 18)
Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham (Capacity: 13,341)
Date: Saturday, 29 November 2025
Kickoff Time: 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET / 20:30 IST
Referee: Tom Reeves
TV Channel (UK): Not Televised (3pm Blackout)
TV Channel (International): WrexhamPlayer, RoversTV
Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA – Select matches), FanCode (India)

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Wrexham:

Position: 10th in Championship (25 Points).
Form: Excellent. Unbeaten in 7 matches. They have kept 3 consecutive clean sheets, including the recent 2-0 win vs Bristol City and a 0-0 draw at Ipswich.
Current Challenge: Maintaining intensity. With games coming thick and fast, Parkinson will rely on his squad depth to keep their high-energy pressing game alive against an established Championship side.

Blackburn Rovers:

Position: 18th in Championship (19 Points).
Form: Inconsistent. While they beat Preston 2-1 recently, losses to Derby (1-2) and QPR (0-1) have dragged them back into the bottom-half mire.
Current Challenge: A defensive injury crisis. Valérien Ismaël is down to bare bones at the back, forcing him to field inexperienced youngsters in a hostile atmosphere.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — What’s at Stake

For Wrexham:

Playoff Credibility: A win here would move them to 28 points, potentially within touching distance of the top 6. It would confirm they are not just surviving, but thriving.

For Blackburn Rovers:

Survival Buffer: Sitting 18th, the gap to the relegation zone is uncomfortable. They need points to stop the slide and ease the mounting pressure on Ismaël.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Team Form

Wrexham (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Bristol City (2-0)
D vs Ipswich Town (0-0)
W vs Charlton Athletic (1-0)
D vs Portsmouth (0-0)
W vs Coventry City (3-2)

Blackburn Rovers (Last 5 Matches):

L vs QPR (0-1)
W vs Preston North End (2-1)
L vs Derby County (1-2)
W vs Bristol City (1-0)
W vs Leicester City (2-0)

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Team News

Wrexham:

Elliot Lee: Out (Knee Injury – The creative spark is missing).
Andy Cannon: Out (Knee Injury – A key engine room absentee).
Lewis Brunt: Out (Thigh Injury).
Jack Mackreth: Out (Leg Injury).
Nathan Broadhead: Available. Scored in midweek and is the man in form.
Paul Mullin: Likely to rotate back into the starting XI to keep the attack fresh.

Blackburn Rovers:

Sondre Tronstad: Out (Ankle – Major loss in midfield).
Hayden Carter: Out (Inactive).
Scott Wharton: Out (Achilles Tendon – Long-term).
Todd Cantwell: Out/Doubtful (Knee Injury – His creativity is sorely missed).
Augustus Kargbo: Out (Leg Injury).
Balázs Tóth: Out (Knee Injury – Goalkeeper issue).
Taylor Gardner-Hickman: Available. Returns from suspension just in time to fill the midfield void.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Head to Head

30 Jan 2024: Blackburn 4–1 Wrexham (FA Cup)
06 Jul 2013: Wrexham 1–1 Blackburn (Friendly)
Analysis: The FA Cup meeting last year was a reality check for Wrexham, but they have improved significantly since then. Blackburn will hope that psychological edge remains.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Predicted Lineups

Wrexham (3-5-2):

Parkinson sticks to his trusted system. With Cannon and Lee out, Rathbone and Jones step up.

GK: Arthur Okonkwo
CB: Max Cleworth
CB: Eoghan O’Connell
CB: Thomas O’Connor
RWB: Ryan Barnett
CM: George Dobson (C)
CM: Ollie Rathbone
CM: James Jones
LWB: James McClean
ST: Paul Mullin
ST: Nathan Broadhead

Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1):

Ismaël is forced to shuffle his pack. Gardner-Hickman comes straight back in. Youngster George Pratt may continue in defense.

GK: Aynsley Pears
RB: Callum Brittain
CB: Dominic Hyam (C)
CB: George Pratt
LB: Harry Pickering
CDM: Lewis Travis
CDM: Taylor Gardner-Hickman
RW: Ryan Hedges
CAM: Tyrhys Dolan
LW: Arnor Sigurdsson
ST: Yuki Ohashi

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Impact Bench Options

Wrexham:

Steven Fletcher: The veteran striker is the perfect “Plan B” if Wrexham need a physical presence late on.
Seb Revan: Offers pace and energy on the flank to exploit tired legs.

Blackburn Rovers:

Andri Gudjohnsen: The striker scored a brace against Preston recently. If Ohashi struggles, Gudjohnsen is the first sub.
Amario Cozier-Duberry: A tricky winger who can create chaos if the game opens up.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Tactical Outlook

Wrexham:

Playing Style: Direct & Organized. Wrexham are happy to concede possession (avg 42%) but are lethal in transition. They will look to hit long diagonals to Ryan Barnett and James McClean to stretch Blackburn’s inexperienced defense.
Strength: Defensive Solidity. 3 clean sheets in a row says it all. Okonkwo and the back three are a cohesive unit.

Blackburn Rovers:

Playing Style: High Pressing. Ismaël demands high intensity, but without key players like Tronstad and Cantwell, the press can be disjointed. They will try to disrupt Wrexham’s rhythm but risk leaving gaps behind for Mullin to exploit.
Weakness: Central Defense. Playing a youngster like Pratt against the savvy Paul Mullin is a mismatch Wrexham will target relentlessly.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Paul Mullin vs. George Pratt	Experience vs. Youth: Mullin is a master of drawing fouls and finding space. Pratt needs the game of his life to keep him quiet.	Wrexham
James McClean vs. Callum Brittain	Physical Duel: McClean never stops running. Brittain loves to attack. Who forces whom back?	Tie
George Dobson vs. Tyrhys Dolan	Midfield Anchor: Dobson must screen the defense and stop Dolan from turning. If Dolan finds space, Blackburn are dangerous.	Wrexham

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Spotlight Players

Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham):

The Welsh international is finding his feet. His goal against Bristol City showed his class. With Elliot Lee out, the creative burden falls on him to link midfield and attack.

Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers):

The captain needs to lead by example. In a hostile atmosphere and with a depleted squad, his aggression and leadership in midfield will determine if Blackburn crumble or fight.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Fan Reactions

Wrexham Fans:

“7 games unbeaten! The Racecourse will be rocking. We owe Blackburn one for that FA Cup defeat.”

“No Lee or Cannon is worrying, but Broadhead is stepping up. In Parky we trust.”

Blackburn Fans:

“Injuries are killing us. Ismaël has his hands tied.”

“We need a reaction after QPR. If we lose this, we are looking over our shoulders at the relegation zone.”

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Match-Defining Factors

The Racecourse Factor: Wrexham rarely lose at home. The crowd noise often intimidates visiting teams, especially those low on confidence.
Blackburn’s Durability: Can a patchwork defense hold out for 90 minutes against Wrexham’s aerial bombardment?
First Goal: Wrexham are experts at managing a lead. If they score first, it’s a long way back for Rovers.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Prediction

Score Prediction: Wrexham 2–0 Blackburn Rovers

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Wrexham to Win.
Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Wrexham’s defense is rock solid right now).
Clean Sheet: Wrexham YES (Blackburn struggle to break down low blocks).

Analysis: Momentum is everything in the Championship. Wrexham are a well-oiled machine at home, while Blackburn are patching holes in their lineup every week. Without their key midfield enforcer (Tronstad) and creative spark (Cantwell), it is hard to see how Rovers hurt this disciplined Wrexham side. Expect a professional home win.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — Final Word

This feels like a game where trajectories cross. Wrexham are looking up, fueled by a sold-out crowd and defensive steel. Blackburn Rovers are looking down, hampered by injuries and inconsistency. Phil Parkinson’s men should have too much structure and grit for a fragile visiting side.

Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers — FAQs

When is the Wrexham vs Blackburn match?

The match kicks off on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at 15:00 GMT.

Is Paul Mullin playing?

Yes, Paul Mullin is fit and expected to start, likely partnering Nathan Broadhead.

Why is Todd Cantwell not playing?

Todd Cantwell is suffering from a knee injury and is unlikely to feature.

Where can I watch the match in India?

You can stream the match live on FanCode.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

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