Wrexham AFC vs Nottingham Forest. Credit: Wrexhamafc.co.uk
Under the lights at the Racecourse Ground, Phil Parkinson’s in-form Wrexham side are daring to dream once again as they prepare to take on Premier League opposition in Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.
The clash has all the hallmarks of a classic: Championship promotion chasers against top-flight strugglers, Hollywood-backed belief versus Premier League pragmatism. Wrexham come into the game flying, unbeaten in four and just one point off the play-offs, while Forest have managed only one win in five and hover dangerously close to the relegation zone.
It is also a night that carries deep meaning for the club’s co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The pair have made no secret of their ambition to one day reach the Premier League, and this fixture provides a glimpse of what that dream might look like in reality. As one local outlet put it, “This fixture carries an even greater significance for Wrexham, not simply about cup romance, but a glimpse into the future for Reynolds and McElhenney.”
Parkinson relishing the challenge
Now, Phil Parkinson has just come out and admitted his players are relishing the test. The Wrexham boss said his side were approaching the occasion with confidence after a strong run of league form.
Embed from Getty Images“I feel we are in a good place at the moment,” said Parkinson. “Momentum is important and you go into every game looking to play at your best and we will do the same.”
Parkinson added that the team had been building towards this fixture since the draw was made. He praised the way his players had kept focus during a busy festive period and said the cup tie was a reward for their consistency.
“When the draw came out, we had a target to get to this game in good form in the league over the Christmas period and we’ve achieved that,” he said. “It is one of those ties that everybody is looking forward to. We have been waiting for a Premier League team here at the Racecourse and we have got a really good team coming here in Nottingham Forest, with a great manager in Sean Dyche.”
Parkinson also explained how much he values the competition, describing it as a key test of Wrexham’s progress in recent seasons. “Cup competitions are very special,” he said. “They can breed confidence and they are good benchmark games as well.”
Forest respect Wrexham’s rise
Even Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been quick to praise the Red Dragons’ transformation. “I know Parky, what a job he’s done,” Dyche said earlier this week, acknowledging Wrexham’s climb through the leagues under their current manager.
Embed from Getty ImagesForest arrive in north Wales with that respect but also pressure. After four defeats in five, Dyche’s side finally stopped the rot by beating West Ham 2-1 last weekend. The Premier League outfit are expected to rotate, with goalkeeper Matz Sels tipped to start again following John Victor’s injury, while Chris Wood and Ryan Yates remain sidelined.
Injury tests and predicted line-ups
Wrexham, meanwhile, will be without several key players. Kieffer Moore remains a doubt after a hamstring injury, while Andy Cannon and Elliot Lee also miss out. However, Parkinson hinted at “freshness” in selection after a demanding festive run, suggesting subtle changes to maintain rhythm.
Predicted Wrexham XI: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; James, Sheaf; Longman, Windass, Broadhead, Thomason; Smith
Predicted Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Bakwa; Jesus
Benchmark of ambition
For all the excitement around another potential cup upset, Parkinson’s focus remains grounded. He said the team will use the match as another measure of their ongoing development and resilience against stronger opposition.
“It is a great test for us and we’ll see how we acquit ourselves,” Parkinson said. “We have used cup games in the past to test ourselves against teams from higher divisions, and now we are going up to that next level against Nottingham Forest.”
And that is exactly what tonight represents: a benchmark. Wrexham have made a habit of exceeding expectations, but this tie is about more than one night under the lights. It is about proving that the club’s story has real substance, that the progress made over the past three years can stand up to Premier League intensity.
Whether they pull off another FA Cup shock or not, the message is clear. Wrexham are no longer outsiders hoping to belong; they are contenders daring to measure themselves against the very best.
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