Wrexham will be making their second trip to Deepdale this season as they take on Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The last journey produced a 3-2 win for the Dragons in the Carabao Cup second round, with a late Kieffer Moore winner securing their place in the next round after he capitalised on a Jack Walton mistake.
This time round, circumstances are very different, as their seasons have matured and the objectives have become clearer, Preston North End will be looking to build on their 3-2 comeback win over Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, as they chase the play-off dream.
Wrexham, on the other hand, endured a slow start to life in the second tier, with only one win and a draw in their first five games of the season, with many onlookers thinking Phil Parkinson had taken this team as far as he could.
Perseverance, however, has been their best attribute as it finally started to click from September onwards and now find themselves in 10th with them daring to dream that they could potentially crash the play-off party and aim to go for their fourth consecutive promotion.
Whilst the backing of Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds has undoubtedly been a big factor in their meteoric rise, with successful commercial revenues in shirt sales, and their hit TV fly-on-the-wall documentary ‘Welcome To Wrexham’ attracting a global fanbase, it’s never been a better time to be associated with the Dragons.
The tie this weekend could be a defining one for either side, Wrexham could see themselves climb up to sixth should other results go their way, as for Preston, they could be in second come the final whistle on Saturday.
Team News
Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that Jamal Lewis will be out for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury against Sheffield Wednesday, due to a hamstring injury.
Harrison Armstrong and Andrija Vukcevic are back in contention for the weekend, however the latter is thought to be taking his time and being eased back in, but should push come to shove, he could feature.
Lewis Gibson (thigh) is still not ready to return to action, as well as Ali McCann who is still recovering from a broken arm.
Milutin Osmajic still has to serve five more games for his ban.
Wrexham will be without Andy Cannon (ACL), Danny Ward (elbow), Jay Rodriguez (ankle), and George Thomason (thigh).
Predicted Line-up
Preston (5-2-1-2): Daniel Iversen, Odeluga Offiah, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes, Thierry Small, Harrison Armstrong, Ben Whiteman, Alfie Devine, Lewis Dobbin, Michael Smith
Wrexham (3-4-1-2): Arthur Okonkwo, Max Cleworth, Dan Scarr, Dominic Hyam, Ryan Longman, Ben Sheaf, Lewis O’Brien, Josh Windass, Kieffer Moore, Nathan Broadhead
Key Battles
Liam Lindsay vs Kieffer Moore
The Scottish defender has his work cut out for him this weekend, taking on the man who scored the winner in the Carabao Cup meeting earlier this season, as well as a man who scored twice on one of his last league visits to Deepdale with Ipswich Town.
The Welsh tower has seven goals in the league this season, and is a seriously dangerous striker at this level – with a strong physical presence as well as an eye for goal, he can just about make any defender look foolish on his day.
Lindsay, on the other hand, is currently being linked with a move away from Deepdale, as Aberdeen registered their interest in the 30-year-old, however he’s done a solid job since coming in for Lewis Gibson since his injury, although questions remain whether he can cut it consistently.
With an opponent who is not as quick, it will be more of a physical battle that could conjure up a rather interesting battle in that area of the pitch.
Alfie Devine vs Lewis O’Brien
The Tottenham loanee has been really impressive this season, with his intelligent tactical play as well as being able to produce chances for the Lilywhites, Preston will need him to be at his very best if they are to get anything out of a formidable Wrexham defence that only conceded once throughout the month of November.
Lewis O’Brien is a technically gifted midfielder who is capable of being one of the best players in the division on his day – with a keen eye for a pass, and a ability to play further forward or even deeper, he offers a lot of tactical benefits to Phil Parkinson’s side.
He maybe relied upon keeping Alfie Devine quiet and vice versa, this is one of the midfield battles that a neutral should really keep their eyes peeled to.
Lewis Dobbin vs James McClean
As far as controversial figures go, McClean always receives a lovely reception when he turns up at Deepdale; his bullish nature that only spurs him on to create the best chances for his side, he can also be capable of letting his dark side take over him.
If Lewis Dobbin gets the better of him, and he is very well capable of doing so, then McClean will need to remain level-headed if he wants to stand a chance of helping the away side come away with something by shutting out the Aston Villa loan star.
Dobbin has five goals and five assists in all competitions this season, and even bagged his first Preston North End goal in this fixture in August.
The 23-year-old is exceptionally gifted and can create chances out of nothing, his intelligence off-the-ball really helps bring other players into the game, whether that’s drifting wide to create space for the likes of Armstrong, Devine, or Smith to run into, or even receiving the ball and taking on the opposition head on to carve out his own chances, he really does decides games – the proof is in his performance at Hillsborough last weekend.
Prediction: Preston North End 1-1 Wrexham
With both teams looking to play their strongest XIs at their disposal rather than cup-rotated teams, there is so much at stake in terms of their respective momentums.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have been very jagged as of late, with losses to Blackburn Rovers and a draw at Watford, the win over the Owls last week has offered them a springboard to bounce from.
Wrexham, meanwhile, are unbeaten since October and endured a defensively dominant month in November, proving themselves to be the team to beat at the moment (apart from Coventry City).
The Lilywhites are capable of scoring goals, as well as setting themselves up to frustrate opponents, particularly at home, therefore I believe this will end in a stalemate.
Back-to-back draws in Lancashire for the Dragons isn’t the worst result, though hardly one they’d want to keep pace with the rest of the play-off chasing pack.
Jack Tucker
