Wrexham AFC vs Burnley: Momentum Builds at STōK Cae Ras

Wrexham AFC walk back into the STōK Cae Ras tonight with a spring in their step and a live TV audience watching on, as winless Burnley arrive under a cloud and under pressure.

Phil Parkinson’s side have finally found a foothold in the Championship. A ruthless 3-0 win at Millwall, followed by a gritty goalless draw away at Swansea City, has turned a shaky start into a quietly confident run. Two tough trips, four points, and, just as importantly, back‑to‑back clean sheets after failing to win any of their first three league games.

That defensive platform has changed the mood. Now comes the test of backing it up at home, under the lights, with Sky Sports Plus cameras trained on North Wales.

New faces, old ties

Deadline day reshaped Parkinson’s squad. Joe Worrall, once of Burnley, could line up against his former club after his move to Wrexham, adding a neat sub-plot to an already intriguing night. Callum O’Hare, who featured last time out, is pushing to keep his place and knit the new‑look attack together.

Parkinson is unlikely to simply roll out the same XI that dug in at Swansea. The bench there was strong; tonight it could be central. Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass and Jacques Ekomié all started among the substitutes last weekend and are jostling to return to the first team. Their inclusion would tilt Wrexham’s approach towards something far more aggressive on home turf.

Liberato Cacace remains sidelined, while Ben Sheaf and Nathan Broadhead edge closer but still need late fitness checks. Their potential involvement will likely be a decision for the dressing room corridor, not the training pitch.

Tactically, little is expected to change in terms of shape. Wrexham are set to persist with the 3-4-2-1 system that has underpinned their recent resilience. The wing-backs could be decisive: Danny Imray on one flank and Ekomié on the other have the legs to drag Burnley’s back line wide and open up lanes for the creators inside. Behind Moore, O’Hare and Windass are poised to operate in those awkward half-spaces that defenders hate to track.

If it clicks, Burnley will be stretched from touchline to touchline.

Burnley’s bruising start and Vardy’s arrival

Burnley arrive in North Wales with the look of a side still reeling from relegation. Nicky Hayen’s team sit bottom of the Championship, with only two points from their opening five matches. The drop from the Premier League was supposed to be a reset; instead, it has become a slide.

The response has been bold. Jamie Vardy is in the building.

The 39-year-old former Leicester City striker has signed on a free transfer until the end of the season, a late roll of the dice to inject goals and personality into a flat campaign. He has not played competitively for a while, so a debut from the bench tonight appears the likeliest route back. Even so, his presence alone changes the temperature around the club.

There was brief talk of Vardy heading to North Wales earlier in the window. It never advanced, and now he could be the man trying to silence the Wrexham crowd instead of feeding off it.

Hayen’s selection options are badly bruised. Denis Satpaev is expected to be out for a few weeks, while Bashir Humphreys, Jordan Beyer, Jaydon Banel, Enock Agyei, Josh Cullen and Ashley Barnes are also unavailable. It is a long list, and it strips Burnley of depth in almost every area of the pitch.

One positive: Lucas Pires may return after completing concussion protocol, offering at least a little relief in a stretched squad.

On paper, the injuries and the table position tilt the odds towards Wrexham. Parkinson will know better than to lean on that. Burnley still carry quality, still possess players with Premier League experience, and still have a new signing in Vardy whose career has been built on ruining nights like this for expectant home crowds.

Unbeaten run on the line

The stakes for Wrexham are clear. Victory would make it four games unbeaten and harden the sense that this newly assembled squad is starting to find its rhythm at Championship level.

The structure is there. The clean sheets are back. The stadium will be full and loud.

Now comes the next question: can Wrexham turn a promising week into a statement month?

Prediction: Wrexham AFC 2–1 Burnley

Kick-off: 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports Plus.