Championship rivals Preston North End and Wrexham clash in the Carabao Cup Second Round at Deepdale. EFL Cup
Our Three Predictions For Preston North End vs Wrexham:
- First Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Match Result – Preston North End – 11/10
- Second Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Over 3.5 Goals – 27/10
- Third Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 4/5
First Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Match Result – Preston North End – 11/10
These two sides are in opposing positions to what was perhaps expected during the early stages of this season. While the Lilywhites have been a surprise package in the opening few games, Wrexham have only picked up a singular point to date. Their solitary success though did come against a fellow Championship side in Round One of the Carabao Cup, which they will hope to use to their advantage tomorrow evening. But Preston will be confident of getting a result, particularly after twice beating heavily-fancied sixes in the league; they will be hoping to make it a hat-trick in the cup.
Second Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Over 3.5 Goals – 27/10
Wrexham came through a thrilling Round One tie against Hull City to qualify for the next round. After Elliot Lee’s opener, the Tigers looked to be progressing after netting three times heading into injury time. But a brace from old boy Ollie Palmer took the game to penalties, where the Red Dragons eventually prevailed. Preston snuck through an uneasy tie at Barrow thanks to Charlie Raglan‘s freak own goal midway through the second period. 1981 was the last time the visitors progressed past this round, while the Lilywhites enjoyed a run to Round Four in 2021 before losing to Liverpool. History is certainly on the hosts side, and that should have them in good stead to edge what is anticipated to be a thrilling encounter.
Third Prediction For Preston North End vs Wrexham: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 4/5
Two of Preston’s opening three Championship games have seen both teams find the back of the net, though they were able to keep a clean sheet in the league for the first time this campaign against Ipswich Town on Saturday. Three is the most amount of goals in a game involving the home side, but that is reversed for the Red Dragons. Wrexham’s dramatic opening day defeat against Southampton was their lowest scoring game to date, with eighteen goals scored between both sides in their opening four across all competitions. Losing six of the last seven in this fixture, only scoring twice, doesn’t bode well for Phil Parkinson’s outfit, but expect both teams to find the net on Tuesday evening.
Best Odds For Preston North End vs Wrexham
| Bookmaker | Preston North End | Draw | Wrexham |
| MyriadPlay | 11/10 | 11/5 | 23/10 |
| Gentleman Jim | 23/20 | 21/20 | 23/10 |
| Betarno | 23/20 | 85/40 | 12/5 |
The table above shows the latest odds from leading football betting websites.
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head:
Wrexham’s first Championship campaign hasn’t begun in the fashion they would have been hoping for. Heading for their first three points of the season on Saturday, thanks to a first-half brace from Keiffer Moore, the Owls skipper Barry Bannan began the fightback before Bailey Cadamarteri levelled with nine minutes remaining. The Red Dragons were indebted to goalkeeper Danny Ward, who denied the visitors all three points late on with a strong save to cling onto a draw. Prior to that, their first campaign at this level in 43 years had begun with successive losses, beginning in cruel fashion on the opening weekend as Southampton twice scored late to seal a thrilling comeback victory. West Bromwich Albion also sneaked past Phil Parkinson’s side the following weekend, despite the goals of Lewis O’Brien and Sam Smith. While their rise to this level has been unprecedented, with three successive promotions, the first time that feat has ever been achieved in English professional football, they will have been expecting a faster start to the season.
Wrexham’s strong summer business has continued in the last few days with the signing of Callum Doyle. Winning promotion from this level in 2024 with Leicester City, the 21-year-old provided seven assists while on loan at Norwich City last season, and has cost a fee upwards of £7m from Manchester City. That figure falls just shy of their record signing, though, which is Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town), who was acquired for a fee which could rise to £10m. Before that, it was the £3m spent on Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest, while another forward, Keiffer Moore, was also signed for a multi-million pound fee. Ryan Hardie could be in line to start tomorrow evening, following his summer move from Plymouth Argyle, while Leicester City duo Danny Ward and Conor Coady strengthen the Red Dragons defence. Josh Windass was an astute pick up from Sheffield Wednesday, though he currently joins fellow signings George Thomason (Bolton Wanderers) and Liberato Cacace (FC Empoli) currently on the treatment table.
Preston have been the second tier’s surprise package early doors this season. Tipped for a season of struggle, they have defeated two relegated Premier League sides on successive weekends to sit sixth in the early standings. Milutin Osmajic has netted in each Championship game thus far, scoring a second half equaliser against Queens Park Rangers on the opening day. Alfie Devine netted early on against Leicester City, and while Jeremy Monga made Championship history by becoming the competitions youngest ever scorer, Osmajic was on hand to deliver the fatal blow five minutes from time. The Montenegro international won and scored the penalty at the weekend to see off Ipswich, despite the Tractor Boys having the lion’s share of possession. Last season, Preston sleepwalked into a relegation battle during the latter stages of the campaign, perhaps a side effect from their FA Cup run to the Quarter-Finals. A score draw at Bristol City kept them in the division by a single point, after four successive defeats beforehand left them Paul Heckingbottom’s side in a precarious position.
Another former Foxes keeper, Daniel Iversen, has departed the East Midlands to join Jack Walton (Luton Town) in that department. Pol Valentin and Micahel Smith were both taken from Sheffield Wednesday, joining Jordan Thompson (Stoke City) with Championship experience. Thierry Small was a very impressive pick up from recently-promoted Charlton Athletic, while Odeluga Offiah was their big-money buy from Brighton & Hove Albion. Completing their permanent business is left-back Andrija Vukcevic from Mexican outfit FC Juarez. On the loan front, three attacking signings have been made. Daniel Jebbison is a striker from AFC Bournemouth, attacking midfielder Alfie Devine joins for the season from Tottenham Hostpur, and finally Lewis Dobbin completes the left-side of their frontline from Aston Villa.
Confrontation |
Where To Watch Preston North End vs Wrexham:
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
- Location: Deepdale Stadium, Preston
- Date: Tuesday 26th August, 2025
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+
Probable Lineups For Preston North End vs Wrexham:
Predicted Preston North End Lineup:
- Lineup: Walton, Offiah, Lindsey, Vukcevic, Valentin, Thordarson, Devine, Carroll, Dobbin, Osmajic, Jebbison
- Suspended/Injured: Potts, Keane, Brady, Thompson, Seary
- Coach: Paul Heckingbottom
Predicted Wrexham Lineup:
- Lineup: Okonwko, James, O’Connell, Scarr, Longman, Ashfield, Lee, McClean, Evans, Smith, Hardie
- Suspended/Injured: Cacace, Windass, Cannon, Rathbone, Rodriguez, Thomason
- Coach: Phil Parkinson
