Wrexham | Can Phil Parkinson’s get their first league win of the season

Wrexham v Sheffield Wednesday preview

Wrexham’s return to the Championship has begun in difficult fashion. Can they pick up three points against a side that have also had a poor start to the season.

Author | Jeremy Watson 

Stadium | STōK Racecourse

Wrexham v West Brom

Phil Parkinson’s side still searching for their first point of the season. Their opening defeat at Southampton was followed by another setback in their first home league game since promotion, a 3-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion despite goals from Lewis O’Brien and Sam Smith.

A penalty shootout victory over Hull City in the EFL Cup briefly lifted spirits, but the Red Dragons have so far been unable to translate that momentum into league form. They head into the weekend among six sides yet to register a point in the division.

Their next assignment brings a first competitive meeting with Sheffield Wednesday since a 4-1 League Cup win in 2006. Wrexham will be eager to avoid losing their first three league fixtures of a campaign for the first time since 1981-82, and may view the game as an opportunity against a depleted Wednesday squad.

The Sheffield Wednesday perspective 

Sheffield Wednesday at Leicester City

Sheffield Wednesday’s troubled start to the season has been overshadowed by unrest off the pitch, with supporters staging protests against Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership during last weekend’s home defeat to Stoke City.

A summer exodus of players, coupled with a transfer fee ban that limits them to free agents or loans without fees, has left Henrik Pedersen working with a threadbare squad. The campaign began with a narrow 2-1 loss at relegated Leicester City, followed by a penalty shootout win over Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup. Hopes of building on that success quickly faded, however, as they slipped to a 3-0 reverse against Stoke at Hillsborough.

READ MORE | Sporting news from across Yorkshire

Pedersen’s side face another test on Saturday when they travel to the Racecourse Ground. Their task looks daunting, yet Wednesday can take encouragement from a strong recent record on the road, having won their last three away league fixtures. They have also claimed victory on each of their past three visits to Wrexham, including a 3-0 win in September 2004.