Wrexham vs Middlesbrough Prediction

Recent form

Middlesbrough's last 20 matches across all competitions show plenty of goals both ways, with wins over Blackburn, West Brom and Lincoln mixed in with draws against Burnley and Millwall. They've lost a few too, including away defeats to QPR and Crystal Palace in the League Cup, but the overall shape is positive.

Wrexham: 20 completed matches; Middlesbrough: 20 completed matches.

Wrexham

20 matches

Win

30% 6 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

20

Conceded

29

Difference

-9

Middlesbrough

20 matches

Win

40% 8 / 20

Draw

35% 7 / 20

Loss

25% 5 / 20

Scored

34

Conceded

29

Difference

+5

Wrexham's equivalent run has been shakier. Across their last 20 games they've lost eight and won just six, shipping 29 goals while scoring only 20. That includes some heavy defeats, such as a 1-5 home loss to Southampton and a 6-0 reverse, which drags the overall picture down.

Boro look the more consistent scorers of the two, while Wrexham's defence has leaked goals regularly.

Comparative Team Statistics: Wrexham vs Middlesbrough

How they've matched up lately

These sides have met three times recently. Middlesbrough won the League Cup tie 1-0 back in August, but the two league meetings have both finished level, a 2-2 at Wrexham in May and a 1-1 at Middlesbrough last October.

So while Boro have the stronger recent form overall, head-to-head results haven't been one-sided. The league fixtures in particular have been close.

Recent history suggests this fixture can be tighter than the league table might imply.

Where they stand

Middlesbrough are third with 15 points from eight games, having won four, drawn three and lost just once. Wrexham sit down in 14th on 10 points from the same number of matches, with two wins, four draws and two defeats.

Both teams have conceded 12 goals, but Boro have scored 16 to Wrexham's nine. That gap in points and goals, from an identical number of games, tells its own story about where each side is right now.

Boro's higher position and bigger goal tally suggest they're the stronger side on current league form.

Players to watch

Middlesbrough's W. Lankshear has been in sharp form, scoring six goals in eight matches, and he looks like their main attacking threat. L. Ayling has chipped in with two assists from midfield.

Wrexham:

Best scorers:

K. Moore - 3

Best assist providers:

Daniel Edward Peter Imray - 2

Penalty cards:

D. Hyam x 3

Middlesbrough:

Best scorers:

W. Lankshear - 6

Best assist providers:

L. Ayling - 2

For Wrexham, K. Moore has three goals in eight games and D. Imray has set up two from six appearances, so there's some creative spark there. D. Hyam has picked up three yellow cards in eight matches, which is worth noting for discipline.