Swansea vs Wrexham prediction, betting tips & EFL odds

There may be over 130 miles between Wrexham and Swansea, but passions are likely to be running high when the Welsh sides meet for the first time since March 2003 this evening (8pm, Sky Sports Football).

These two last clashed in the old third division and both clubs have been on rollercoaster journeys since then. Wrexham spent 15 years out of the EFL, but three promotions in three years have got the fans dreaming.

Swansea, on the other hand, were promoted to the Premier League, won the League Cup back in 2013 and competed in Europe.

Times have been a bit leaner for the Swans of late, but they have won two of the last three matches under new boss Vitor Matos and they are the favourites on betting sites to get the better of Wrexham.

There are only three places between the two teams heading into the weekend, although while Wrexham are aiming for the top end of the table in their first season back in the second tier since 1982, Swansea are looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone, four points away.

Wrexham go into the game with just one defeat from their last nine games, and that came away at Hull City earlier this month. Manager Phil Parkinson will know the importance of turning draws into wins after five of their last eight matches ended all square, including last time out.

Ollie Rathbone scored in added time at home to Watford on Saturday to earn his side a point after Watford came from 1-0 to lead 2-1 through goals from Mamadou Doumbia and Othmane Maamma.

Swansea have lost six of their last eight, including last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 at Stoke City to end a two-game winning run, which saw them beat Oxford United and Portsmouth, both at home.

Football betting sites fancy them to make it three home wins on the bounce under Matos at the expense of Wrexham, who may prove good value to secure their first away victory since the end of September.

Wrexham have won five of the last six meetings and you have to go back to August 1993 for the last time Swansea came out on top in this clash, when Mark Harris, Colin Pascoe and John Cornforth were all on target in a 3-1 win.

Swansea vs Wrexham prediction 1: Wrexham to win - 23/10 Bet365

On paper, Wrexham have plenty of goals in their squad, helped largely by the millions of pounds spent on Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead and the free transfer of Josh Windass.

The trio have scored 17 of the Dragons' 26 Championship goals so far this season, but the team needs more if they are to maintain a play-off challenge.

For the Welsh international, Moore, this fixture will hold even more significance than most, as he spent two years at Cardiff City and scored three times for the Bluebirds against their hated rivals.

He already has 10 goals this season, including a brace against Sheffield Wednesday and a hat-trick in their shock 3-2 win over league leaders Coventry City back in October.

Moore is 7/1 to score first on football betting apps having opened the scoring three times this season, while he’s 175/1 to bag his second hat-trick of the campaign.

Swansea vs Wrexham prediction 2: Moore to score at any time - 5/2 BoyleSports

Swansea: The home side will be without Burnley loanee, Manuel Benson, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Angola.

Wrexham: Wrexham are without Danny Ward, Issa Kabore, Lewis Brunt, Andy Cannon, Elliot Lee and Jay Rodriguez, who are all out injured, while Liberato Cacace is on his way back, but this game could come too soon.

Swansea’s clash with Wrexham isn’t the only big showdown on Friday evening with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua taking on Jake Paul in Miami on the same night.

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It’s vital that bettors take steps to remain in control of their time and budget when using gambling sites. The same applies whether you’re using online bookmakers, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.

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