Wrexham vs Preston North End — Match Preview
The festive football schedule brings a intriguing battle to the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham host Preston North End. The two sides meet for the second time in less than a month, having played out a 1–1 draw at Deepdale on December 6. Since then, their fortunes have diverged. Wrexham are in a rut, winless in their last five matches and slipping to 15th in the table. Preston, meanwhile, are flying high in 5th place, unbeaten in their last five and looking to cement their playoff credentials. With Wrexham desperate to end their slump in front of a passionate home crowd, and Preston aiming to continue their promotion push, this promises to be a feisty encounter.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Match Info
- Competition: EFL Championship (Matchday 24)
- Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham (Capacity: 13,341)
- Date: Monday, 29 December 2025
- Kickoff: 19:45 GMT | 20:45 CET
- Referee: TBC (EFL Appointment)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Match Stakes
Wrexham (15th — 28 pts):
- Win → Moves to 31 pts; breaks the 5-game winless streak and restores confidence.
- Draw → Stops the run of defeats but keeps them mired in mid-table mediocrity.
- Loss → Could slide further down the table (16th/17th); increases pressure on Phil Parkinson.
Preston North End (5th — 36 pts):
- Win → Moves to 39 pts; strengthens grip on a Top 6 spot and keeps pressure on the automatic places.
- Draw → A solid away point in a hostile atmosphere; maintains the unbeaten run.
- Loss → Allows chasing pack (Millwall, QPR) to close the gap; dents momentum heading into the New Year.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Team News
Wrexham:
- Mullin P. — Out (Loaned out – Club Icon Missing)
- O’Connell E. — Available (Returned to fitness)
- McClean J. — Available (Captain & Key Motivator)
- Rotation: Heavy rotation expected due to the festive fixture congestion. Expect Nathan Broadhead and Ryan Hardie to lead the line in Mullin’s absence.
Preston North End:
- Osmajić M. — Available (Top Scorer – Key Threat)
- Whiteman B. — Available (Captain & Midfield Anchor)
- Iversen D. — Available (Starting GK in fine form)
- Storey J. — Available (Defensive Leader)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Wrexham
- 20/12 — 1–2 vs Swansea (Championship)
- 13/12 — 2–2 vs Watford (Championship)
- 11/12 — 0–2 vs Hull City (Championship)
- 06/12 — 1–1 vs Preston (Championship)
- 29/11 — 1–1 vs Blackburn (Championship)
Preston North End
- 20/12 — 1–1 vs Norwich (Championship)
- 13/12 — 2–1 vs Oxford Utd (Championship)
- 10/12 — 1–1 vs Coventry (Championship)
- 06/12 — 1–1 vs Wrexham (Championship)
- 29/11 — 3–2 vs Sheffield Wed (Championship)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Head-to-Head (Last Meetings)
- 06/12/2025 — Preston 1–1 Wrexham (Championship)
- 27/08/2025 — Preston 2–3 Wrexham (EFL Cup)
- 25/03/2000 — Preston 1–0 Wrexham (League One)
- 26/12/1999 — Wrexham 0–0 Preston (League One)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Wrexham (3-5-2)
Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Brunt; Barnett, Sheaf, Dobson, Lee, McClean; Broadhead, Hardie
Preston North End (3-4-2-1)
Iversen; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, McCann, Small; Frøkjær-Jensen, Devine; Osmajić
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Impact Bench
Wrexham: Rathbone (Energy), Palmer (Plan B / Physicality)
Preston: Brady (Set-piece quality), Jebbison (Pace vs tired legs)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Tactical Analysis
Wrexham
Phil Parkinson’s side relies heavily on wing-back play. James McClean and Ryan Barnett will look to deliver crosses into the box. Wrexham’s struggle recently has been converting draws into wins; without Paul Mullin (loaned out), they lack that clinical edge. They must stop conceding first, having chased the game in their last three outings.
Preston North End
Paul Heckingbottom has made Preston tough to beat. They are organized in a 3-4-2-1, with Ben Whiteman controlling the tempo. Milutin Osmajić offers a physical outlet upfront, while the pace of Thierry Small on the left is a constant threat. Preston will be happy to absorb Wrexham’s pressure and hit them on the counter-attack, exploiting the space behind Wrexham’s advancing wing-backs.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Key Battles
- McClean vs Potts — A physical battle on the flank between two experienced campaigners.
- Lee vs Whiteman — Wrexham’s creative hub vs Preston’s destroyer.
- Broadhead vs Storey — Speed vs positioning in the final third.
- Okonkwo vs Osmajić — Wrexham’s GK needs to be alert to the striker’s movement.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Spotlight Players
Wrexham — Elliot Lee
The “Magician” needs to rediscover his best form. With the team struggling for goals, Lee’s ability to unlock defenses or score from distance is vital for Wrexham to get back to winning ways.
Preston North End — Mads Frøkjær-Jensen
The Danish midfielder is the creative link for Preston. drifting between the lines. If Wrexham give him space, he will punish them.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Prediction
Wrexham 1–2 Preston North End
Preston are the form team and have the psychological edge of sitting in the playoff spots. Wrexham are struggling for rhythm and goals. While the Racecourse atmosphere will keep it close, Preston’s superior organization and confidence should see them edge a tight contest.
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Betting Insights
- Preston Draw No Bet — High Value
- Both Teams to Score — YES (Recent H2H was 1-1 and 3-2)
- Under 2.5 Goals — Possible (Both teams played 1-1 draws recently)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Football / Main Event
- USA: CBS Sports Network / Paramount+
- International: iFollow (Select Regions)
Wrexham vs Preston North End — FAQs
Q: When is the Wrexham vs Preston match?
A: The match takes place on Monday, 29 December 2025.
Q: Is Paul Mullin playing for Wrexham?
A: No. Paul Mullin is currently out on loan at Wigan Athletic.
Q: Who won the last meeting?
A: The last meeting ended in a 1–1 draw on December 6, 2025.
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