Wrexham vs Preston Prediction: Reds have the firepower to prevail

Wrexham delivered plenty of festive cheer when beating Sheffield United 5-3 at the Racecourse on Boxing Day and that thrilling contest saw the Reds move to within five points of the playoff places in a congested Championship table. Now they take on Preston North End (19:45 GMT)

Preston sat eight places ahead of the Welsh side going into Monday’s second-tier fixtures, but it’s a gap of only six points now. The Lilywhites have won only one of their last nine Championship games, but that can be turned around to just one defeat in 12. Read on for my Wrexham vs Preston predictions, featuring match odds and the latest team news.

Team News

 Andy Cannon, Danny Ward, Aaron James and Lewis Brunt are long-term absentees for Wrexham and they are joined on the treatment table by Issa Kabore and Liberato Cacace.

Jamal Lewis picked up a hamstring injury against Sheffield Wednesday and faces a couple of weeks on the sidelines for North End.

Ali McCann, Lewis Gibson, Brad Potts and Robbie Brady are also missing for the visitors.

Wrexham vs Preston Odds

Wrexham are 6/5 chances to make it back-to-back home wins, while Preston are 12/5 shots and the draw is available at 11/5.

Wrexham to win @ 6/5

Wrexham produced a barnstorming display to down the in-form Blades 5-3 on Boxing Day and look set for another home success.

The home form of Phil Parkinson's side has been a major weapon this season and Wrexham have lost only one of their last 11 games at the Racecourse.

The Reds have taken 14 points from their last six Championship matches on Welsh turf and that impressive run includes victories over Coventry, Charlton Sheffield United and Bristol City.

Football Odds

Preston are riding high in the second-tier table, but their play-off position is a rather flattering one and the Lilywhites have been struggling to pick up victories.

Paul Heckingbottom’s men have won only one of their last nine Championship games, and while they have lost just one of those games, Preston’s small squad appears to be struggling to take the next step.

The Racecourse will be buzzing after Friday's rocking success over Sheff Utd and the Welshmen can follow up by taking three points against Preston.

Over 3.5 goals @ 3/1

The goal expectancy for Monday night's clash is pretty low, but that could prove to be wide of the mark.

Wrexham saw eight goals scored in their 5-3 victory over Sheff Utd on Boxing Day and there have been 25 strikes in the Reds' last seven games at the Racecourse.

The net has bulged 21 times in Preston's last eight away matches and there could be an uplift on that number.

It's difficult to see how the Lilywhites can avoid being drawn into an end-to-end battle with their hosts, much like the Blades.

At 3/1 over 3.5 goals looks too big to ignore.