FA Cup 4th Round – 29/01/2023, 4:30pm
Wrexham returned to the top of the National League with a 3-0 win away at Gateshead this week. And as ESPN pointed out,”As it stands, they’ll be promoted to EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football.”
That statement was to give their growing American audience the notion that the Red Dragons are on course to the Premier League.
That is the dream for their US multi-millionaire owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The pair’s ownership of the Welsh club has already seen a Disney ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary.
On the field, though, Phil Parkinson has got the Red Dragons in a decent position after last season’s extraordinary, extra-time play-off semi-final defeat to Grimsby.
Parkinson, who guided Bradford City to promotion from the fourth tier as well as a League Cup final, has been able to spend big at the Racecourse Ground. And after seven successive victories, the Red Dragons are in a purple patch ahead of the Blades’ visit in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Wrexham have a 100% home record with 12 wins from 12 games and 44 goals scored and just 10 conceded.
They disposed of Championship side Coventry in the third round, winning 4-3 on the road.
Parkinson switched to a more defensive back five that day instead of his tried and tested 3-5-2, but Wrexham came away four goals to the good.
The hosts will make it difficult for the Blades and will play quickly into their two strikers, one of which is 20-goal Paul Mullin, and get crosses into the box.
In Ben Tozer they also possess a big threat from long throws and Paul Heckingbottom’s men will not have faced such a test all season.
They are in brilliant form themselves with the joint-best away record in the second tier. They have also won eight of their last nine games, but know that everyone is sniffing an upset with the game being aired live on the BBC.
Wrexham will be in the Football League next season and it’s effectively a two-division gap, but any team with a 12/12 record at home needs respect.
The hosts are 3/1 shots and it might be worth getting on Wrexham for the ride on Sunday afternoon.
Key stats
- Sheff Utd won the last meeting between the sides 3-2 in 2004
- Wrexham are on an 18-match unbeaten run
- Wrexham have won their last seven games in all competitions
- Wrexham have won all 12 home games this season
- Sheff Utd have won eight of their last nine games in all competitions
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