- Home form: Wrexham have won nine, drawn six and lost only six of their 21 Championship home games this season.
- Away form: Stoke have won only six of their 21 Championship away games this term, drawing four and losing 11.
- Road goals: Stoke have scored only 17 goals in their 21 Championship road games this campaign.
Wales can be a tough place for Stoke
Form and standings
Wrexham are in the middle of an average run of form with one win, one draw and three defeats from their last five games but home advantage should see them back on track against Stoke on Saturday. The Reds are in the top seven with 64 points from 42 games, nine more than Stoke, who are 16th after taking 55 points from the same number of matches.
Tactics and managers
The difference in the two clubs’ approach to the game could make this an intriguing matchup with Stoke looking to control the ball and possess the midfield. Mark Robins’ four-man defence system is geared to dominating opponents with a high press and fast breaks either side of a solid central block.
He has done a good job of balancing the Potters since taking over in January and improving their ability to play on the front foot, but his team have failed to win their last two away games, losing both. Phil Parkinson is a structure-first coach and his 3-5-2/3-4-3 system has got them to seventh place in the table.
Wrexham’s counter-attacking flair
Wales is a tough trip for anyone in the Championship and Parkinson’s compact, counter-attacking Red Dragons will be a test for the Stoke midfielders. The 3-4-3 system allows Wrexham to be solid with a back three and wing-backs and allows Parkinson to switch to a 3-5-2 if required.
The five at the back should keep the game compact and Parkinson’s side have a man in Josh Windass that can finish off any transition play in style. Stoke, who beat Wrexham 1-0 in the reverse fixture five months ago, also have a winger with a great eye for goal in Sorba Thomas, who has hit ten goals in 41 Championship appearances this term. We’re looking forward to the clash between a solid Wrexham block and Stoke’s pressing, which should produce an interesting chess match. Stoke have failed to win their last two away matches, losing both, and Wrexham can take advantage of that with a home win.
Stoke lack killer instinct on the road
Back Parkinson’s men to bounce back from their 1-5 home defeat to Southampton and 2-0 loss at Birmingham City with a 1.69 favorite. The odds for over 2.5 goals and both teams to score are also very appealing at 1.8 and 1.75, respectively, as there should be some quality chances at each end of the field, but our main bet is on the hosts to edge a lively encounter in which neither team has been in great form recently.
- The Potters have managed only 17 goals in 21 away Championship games and that could be their undoing here.
- Wrexham are averaging 1.76 goals per game at the Racecourse Ground and have registered 37 goals in their 21 home matches this season.
- Parkinson’s plan usually involves Windass as the main goalscorer and, with 12 goals in the Championship, he has been a good choice for us to score any time.
- He has scored three of Wrexham’s last six goals and should be able to cause problems for Stoke in the first half, at least.
