Wrexham host West Bromwich Albion at the Racecourse Ground on 13 October 2026, with both sides returning from the international break in imperfect shape. The hosts are 15th with 11 points from nine games, while West Brom sit ninth or tenth on 14 points after losing at home to Birmingham.
Neither side is doing enough to feel comfortable and the result probably matters more to Wrexham, who need to start converting home games into wins to put some distance between themselves and the bottom half. West Brom have the points to suggest genuine mid table ambition but aren't pulling away from anyone.
Phil Parkinson has been at Wrexham since 1 July 2021 when he replaced Dean Keates, while James Morrison only took charge of West Brom on 30 April 2026 after stepping in for Eric Ramsay, meaning there's no meaningful head to head record between them to draw on.
Wrexham's last five reads D W L D D, with results ranging from a 2-1 home win over Southampton on 19 September to a 0-6 at West Ham on 11 September, the latter suggesting a side that can be undone when the quality gap is wide enough. West Brom's sequence reads L L D W W, their most recent result the 0-1 home defeat to Birmingham on 10 October.
Wrexham are missing Max Cleworth, Liberato Cacace, George Thomason and Nathan Broadhead through injury, with Josh Windass doubtful as well, which is a large chunk of defensive and midfield cover gone and forces Parkinson into line up choices he probably wouldn't make by preference. West Brom have their own problems, with Mikey Johnston sidelined long term and Nolan Galves also out, Johnston's absence in particular removing the width Morrison would normally lean on.
Wrexham usually line up in a 3 4 2 1 that leans on set pieces and defensive solidity rather than open play creativity. Kieffer Moore is the target for Wrexham's dead ball deliveries, with Oliver Rathbone capable of contributing from central areas off the bench, though without Cleworth, Cacace, Thomason and Broadhead there's less cover across the back and midfield than Parkinson would want, which exposes the hosts to direct balls in behind.
West Brom's 4 4 2 makes Jimmy-Jay Morgan their most productive player this season, with Aune Heggebo as his striking partner and without Johnston and Galves the width is reduced, which may push Morrison toward overlapping full backs or overloading through the middle. The central duel between Moore and West Brom's defenders is probably where the game turns: if Wrexham win it they get the set piece deliveries they want, whereas if West Brom deal with it they can ask questions in behind where Wrexham's depleted backline is vulnerable. Against a West Brom side missing width the three centre backs may hold their shape but that also means less natural cover if things break down quickly in midfield, which is exactly where West Brom try to hurt teams.
The only previous meeting ended 2-2 at The Hawthorns in April 2026, which feels apt given the context: two sides carrying defensive uncertainty, both capable of scoring but also of switching off.
Set pieces are Wrexham's clearest route to goal and West Brom will need to defend them properly. Wrexham need the points to move away from the bottom half, West Brom need them to keep pace with whatever is happening above them.
We're going with 2-2. Wrexham should take the lead through Moore from a set piece and may build a brief advantage if West Brom are slow to settle but Morgan and Heggebo give West Brom the transition threat to come back into it and Wrexham's depleted midfield is likely to fade as the game goes on, opening space for the visitors to score on the break.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
