Weston-Super-Mare vs Wrexham Predictions

Back in 2003, Weston-super-Mare reached the second round of this famous competition, though they’ve failed to get that far since. Having come through the qualifiers to reach the first round and having avoided getting a Football League club in the draw, the Somerset club will be hoping that 2018 is the year that they finally scale those heights again.

In recent weeks, Sunday’s hosts have made a habit of battling hard to avoid defeat, which isa quality that may just hold them in good stead against National League opposition. Marc McGregor’s side may be bottom of the National League South, but their recent showings have been encouraging, as they’ve lost just one of their last six matches, while they’re now unbeaten in three. Three clean sheets in six also bodes well.

However, while they have kept a few clean sheets since the start of October, the fact that McGregor’s side have conceded at least twice in three of their last four isn’t exactly positive, especially since they’re going up against a Wrexham side that currently tops the division above. What’s more, the hosts have conceded at least twice in three of their last five at Woodspring Stadium. Again, that’s not exactly the desired form ahead of a match against a superior outfit.

As for the visitors, well, it’s fair to say that things have gone swimmingly for Wrexham this season. Their quest to return to the Football League has so far gone according to plan, as the Dragons currently sit top of the National League. On top of that, their performances against some decent fifth-tier sides in recent weeks suggests that they ought to be capable of exerting control over the side that currently sits bottom of the sixth-tier.

Sunday’s visitors are without a defeat in nine matches, six of which they’ve won, while they’ve kept an impressive six clean sheets during that time too. That said, they’ve not been able to win with regularity on the road in recent times, so there is hope for the hosts. When plying their trade away from home, the National League leaders have been tough to beat, while they’ve tended to be involved in rather subdued affairs. They’ve scored just four goals in their last six on the road, but they’ve only shipped five, while only two of those six have seen three or more match goals go in.

As one of the more defence-minded National League sides, it’s easy to assume that Wrexham will go to Woodspring Stadium with containment in mind. They won’t want to open the game up too much, while they’ll back themselves to come out on top thanks to their extra quality, as long as they keep things tight and give little away, as they’ve often done when playing away from home in the league.

With an average of just 0.91 expected goals for when playing away from home in the National League, along with an average of 1.12 against, coupled with the fact that they rarely get involved in high-scoring games on the road, Wrexham are backed to edge this one in low-key fashion. ‘Under 2.5 Goals’, at what appears to be a slightly generous price, gets the nod.