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2025-09-23 - Wrexham vs Reading
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 23rd September 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Wrexham
After winning the National League title, Wrexham have continued to grow very quickly and followed up with two further Promotions, albeit by finishing 2nd in each of the last couple of campaigns. Three Promotions in a row means the squad may have been stretched in terms of quality, but Wrexham are well backer by high-profile celebs and that has allowed them to make some significant signings in the summer transfer market.
Even then, manager Phil Parkinson has to know that consolidation is perhaps the best Wrexham can expect in the competitive Championship before pushing onto the ultimate goal of Promotion to the Premier League. That doesn't mean everyone will agree and some reports have suggested that Parkinson could be removed as manager, despite the achievements under his guidance and with Wrexham 15th in the Championship table.
Wrexham won 2-3 at Norwich City this past weekend and it may have just kept the wolves from the door as far as Phil Parkinson is concerned. They have won 3 of their last 4 games in all competitions, but the 1-3 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the last fixture at the Racecourse Ground had built pressure.
The first team squad will likely face some rotation, but this is an important fixture for Wrexham as they look for the best League Cup run since reaching the Quarter Final in 1977/78.
Reading
New owners are in place and Reading were not facing a transfer embargo this summer, which has naturally increased expectations following a surprising League One campaign last time around. Noel Hunt will have eased some of the early pressure on his shoulders by guiding Reading to a win this past weekend, but it is all about building on that momentum now.
The Royals were able to move out of the bottom four in the League One table with that victory over Leyton Orient, although they are only a point and a place above those teams in the early relegation zone. They have earned a League Cup exit once this season by beating Portsmouth of the Championship at Fratton Park and Reading will feel they have nothing to lose here.
Reading have now won 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions and that may be a spark to turn things right around for the club. However, they head West having not won any of their last 4 away games in all competitions and Reading have suffered consecutive away defeats at Swindon Town and Barnsley.
Noel Hunt may choose to make one or two rotations of his own as Reading's main focus is on improving League One form.
Head to Head
These two clubs were both playing in League One last season and both Reading and Wrexham earned comfortable home wins over the other.
Wrexham had lost 3 in a row at the Racecourse Ground against Reading, but had not hosted them since December 2001 before beating them 3-0 here last August.
Prediction
The pressure is already building on manager Phil Parkinson and it is funny how quickly three consecutive promotion campaigns can be forgotten.
However, there is an impatience around the Wrexham boardroom to have the Club playing in the Premier League and 'consolidation' is not something they are going to accept, even if that is the natural position they should be aiming for.
The win over Norwich City has cooled speculation and Parkinson should be able to lead Wrexham to a home win over Reading and perhaps earn the plum Cup draw that will excite all.
Wrexham should have enough quality to beat Reading, who have been struggling for consistency.
Back to back away defeats at Swindon Town and Barnsley will be a reminder of the challenge faced by Reading.
They did win at Championship Portsmouth in the League Cup First Round, but this is another stiff test and Wrexham can come out on top inside the regulation time.
The Pick :
Wrexham 2-0 Reading
