They’re at it again.
Almost 30 years on from their last appearance in the FA Cup fifth round, Wrexham will take their place in Monday’s draw after seeing off fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town.
Considering the glorious days the Welsh club has enjoyed down the years in the world’s oldest knockout competition, this victory, achieved via Josh Windass’ ninth goal of the season, felt to be more of a routine affair.
Not only were Ipswich unable to muster a single shot on target but the 10 changes made by Kieran McKenna to the visitors’ starting line-up suggested priorities lie elsewhere. Ipswich, relegated from the Premier League last season, were third in the Championship table on Friday night, with Wrexham seven points below them in sixth, the final play-off spot. Nevertheless, this was still a win that mattered hugely to the Welsh side.
“We spoke to the players before the game about our chance to create a bit of history,” said manager Phil Parkinson after the game. “We did that and I am so pleased. You have to savour the FA Cup and it was important we backed up the (Nottingham) Forest win (in the last round).
“It is great for our owners. This week was their fifth anniversary (of buying Wrexham) so to get into the fifth round is great for them as well.”
To underline just how long it is since Wrexham last appeared in the fifth round, goalscorer Windass had just celebrated his third birthday when Brian Flynn’s third-tier side headed to Birmingham City in February 1997.
A 3-1 victory over a team from the division above made the occasion even more memorable, setting up a quarter-final tie at Chesterfield that was lost 1-0.
Wrexham will be at a hotel in Bristol, preparing for the following night’s Championship clash against City at Ashton Gate, when the draw for the fifth round is made live on TNT.
“The percentages are in our favour to draw a Premier League team,” said Parkinson. “Is it greedy to ask for another home draw after being at home in the last two rounds? I don’t think so.
“It’s still a 50-50 shout. I would love to give our supporters another great Cup tie here at home. When you get into this round, you’ve got a great chance of bringing a big team here or playing them away.”
Chelsea are already through to the fifth round after thrashing Hull City 4-0 on Friday night. As for the rest of the Premier League sides, only Manchester United are already out of the Cup so, providing the weekend’s remaining ties go to form, Wrexham may well get that glamour tie Parkinson craves.
“Hopefully (it’s) not a big team away because you don’t touch the ball,” deadpanned Windass.
Josh Windass (right) celebrates scored Wrexham’s only goal (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Next week, Ipswich will make the same 450-mile round trip to play Wrexham once again, this time with Championship points up for grabs on Saturday, February 21.
Fans of baseball or basketball in the United States may shrug their shoulders and ask, “So what?”
But, here in the UK, back-to-back clashes are, if not a rarity, then certainly far from commonplace. Only once this season in the top four divisions of English football have the same two teams met at the same venue in either consecutive fixtures or weekends, back in late August when Wigan Athletic beat Stockport County 1-0 in the Carabao Cup four days before the two clubs drew 1-1 in League One.
Asked if he thought the Cup game would have any bearing on next Saturday’s league encounter, McKenna replied: “I am sure Phil will be hoping this week can have a positive effect on next week.
“In reality, I probably don’t think so. But, it is good to have been up here, if I am honest. This was the first visit to this ground for myself. Same for a lot of the players and the staff. That’s always useful.
“We knew Wrexham were a good team anyway but we saw some of their strengths tonight and now have a week to prepare now and come back up here to deliver a real good performance and get the result we want.”
Ipswich’s return visit will be the 21st time since the start of the 2021-22 season that the same two teams in the top four divisions have met at the same venue in either consecutive fixtures or over back-to-back weekends.
Those Wrexham fans hoping Friday’s victory could have a bearing on the scrap for league points may take encouragement from how seven of those previous 20 double-headers saw the same club win both meetings.
Two players who have experience of facing the same team in close proximity are Windass and Ben Sheaf, now team-mates but in early 2024 on opposing sides as Sheffield Wednesday met Coventry City three times in 17 days.
“You obviously get familiar with each other,” said Windass, part of the Wednesday team beaten twice by Coventry either side of a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup at Hillsborough.
“I am sure both teams will have to adjust their game plans, based on what went well tonight and what didn’t. But next week is a completely different challenge.”
