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Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

The Red Dragons play their first competitive match of the new season on Friday.
Rich Fay|
Wrexham drew with Middlesbrough on the final day of last season.
Wrexham drew with Middlesbrough on the final day of last season. | Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto/Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA via Getty Images

Wrexham officially begin the new season with a trip to Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Friday.

Phil Parkinson has already revealed he will treat the match as an extension of preseason, with the primary objective of building match sharpness ahead of the Championship campaign.

The Red Dragons could hand a debut to summer signing Ben Whiteman at the Riverside Stadium, while Middlesbrough may also showcase several of their own new arrivals. Kim Hellberg’s side lost to Hull City in last season’s Championship playoff final and enters the new campaign as one of the favorites for automatic promotion.

Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham Score Prediction

Red Dragons Come Up Short

Nathan Broadhead #33 dribbles during the friendly match between Wrexham AFC and Sunderland AFC.
Wrexham will be focused on fitness when they face Middlesbrough. | Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Both Middlesbrough and Wrexham are expected to use Friday’s Carabao Cup tie as a final opportunity to build fitness before the Championship season begins. As a result, both managers are likely to rotate heavily and use the full allocation of substitutes.

A victory would be welcome for either side, but both clubs are expected to prioritize the league over a lengthy cup run. The bigger question is whether Parkinson and Hellberg opt to field their strongest lineups as a dress rehearsal for the league opener or use the occasion to give fringe players one final opportunity to impress.

  • Whiteman debut: Wrexham completed the signing of Preston North End captain Ben Whiteman this week, and the midfielder could make his debut off the bench.
  • Goalkeeper dilemma: Wrexham has yet to establish a clear No. 1 goalkeeper heading into the new season. Even if the club signs another goalkeeper before the transfer deadline, Parkinson still needs to decide who will start the opening Championship fixtures.
  • An early measuring stick: Parkinson may be treating the match as another preseason fixture, but it still offers Wrexham an excellent opportunity to measure itself against one of the Championship’s strongest teams. With nearly a month remaining in the transfer window, the game could also help identify any remaining weaknesses in the squad.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 2–1 Wrexham

Wrexham Lineup vs. Middlesbrough

What Time Does Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham Kick Off?

  • Location: Middlesbrough, England
  • Stadium: Riverside Stadium
  • Date: Friday, Aug. 7
  • Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. BST / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT

How to Watch Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham on TV, Live Stream

Country

TV Channel/Live Stream

United States

Paramount+

United Kingdom

ITV1, ITVX, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR

Canada

DAZN Canada. fuboTV

Mexico

Disney+ Premium

Australia

beIN SPORTS 3, beIN Sports Connect

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Rich Fay
RICH FAY

Rich Fay is a Sports Illustrated freelance writer covering Wrexham AFC. He was born in Wrexham and raised in North Wales, but spent nine years covering Manchester United and Manchester City for the Manchester Evening News and National World. Rich is also the co-host of the RobRyanRed Wrexham podcast and featured in the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries. When he is not at matches, he is a keen hiker as well as a cook, and thinks he would do surprisingly well on the Great British Bake Off.

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