Wrexham AFC still have a chance to become the sixth non-League side to reach the FA Cup fifth round after a 3-3 draw against Sheffield United at the Racecourse Ground on Sunday. The Wales-based side play in the National League, which is the fifth tier of professional English football, and three tiers below the Blades they have now taken on a replay.
The game will not be replayed as such despite the use of the term “replay”. In England, particularly in cup competitions, a replay means a forced second home game of the team that played on the road in the first game which ended in a draw. There is no third game as a tie score will be decided beyond 90 minutes in this second game.
Anything below League Two, which is the fourth tier of English play, is traditionally considered ‘non-league’, and Wrexham are the latest club in that ranking to threaten a major upset. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the 158-year-old club has been controversial since their takeover in 2020, but it has ensured all eyes are on the Red Dragons in the United States.
Wrexham are somewhat of the underdog in this game despite having stronger financial backing than most at this level. However, they held on for 90 minutes against Sheffield United and did well to come back from a deflating first goal against them inside the opening two minutes from Oliver McBurnie.
Wrexham’s growing popularity in the United States and beyond will have been helped by the spectacle that followed as an FA Cup classic played in the second half near the English border. James Jones’ equalizer five minutes into the second half was followed by Thomas O’Connor with the go-ahead goal 11 minutes later to drive home fans wild.
That cheer was short-lived for the majority of the crowd of nearly 10,000 as Oliver Norwood equalized four minutes later for the visitors. Just six minutes later, however, there was further drama as the Blades had Daniel Jebbison sent off with a straight red card to leave them a man short for the final 20 minutes.
Wrexham star man Paul Mullin drew criticism when he moved down a division to join the club after scoring a league-record 32 goals for Cambridge United in 2021. The 28-year-old delighted the home fans when he broke home four minutes from time for what looked to be the winning strike.
Sheffield United had other ideas, however, and broke Wrexham hearts five minutes into added time when John Egan equalized for all 10 men to earn a replay at Bramall Lane. FA Cup giants against comparative minnows like these are what make the competition one of football’s most special domestic cups and hugely lucrative for smaller clubs.
A near-capacity crowd plus TV coverage and a host of game-related social media attention will have put Wrexham on the football map a bit more for those who didn’t know them before. Forcing a replay, Phil Parkinson’s men must now travel to Sheffield to play the second leg away for any chance of reaching the fifth round. This match will take place on February 7 and 8.
Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool have already fallen this season and Wrexham have held their own against a side that could be in the top flight next campaign. It’s a tall order to win against the Blades given they’ve only been beaten twice at home throughout the season, but Sunday’s spirited performance gives Wrexham hope as they try to write a small piece of history.
