Phil Parkinson and a strategy to keep Wrexham’s focus on the league, not Chelsea | OneFootball

Phil Parkinson is determined Wrexham stay locked on the league despite a home FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Chelsea on the horizon. Supporters are buzzing, the manager is not for distraction.

According to NY Times, Ryan Reynolds watched Monday’s draw with Hugh Jackman and reacted with a stream of expletives as ball No 7 paired Wrexham with Chelsea, set for the club’s first home meeting since 1982. Wrexham’s cup pedigree and Parkinson’s 2015 Bradford shock at Stamford Bridge mean an upset cannot be ruled out.

Players had watched the draw together at their Bristol hotel, then on Tuesday produced a 2-2 display at Bristol City that felt like two points dropped. Max Bird’s 89th-minute volley denied a win that would have taken Wrexham back up to sixth. “It will be a great day when it comes round,” Parkinson said afterward.

Parkinson has balanced cup glamour with league graft before. As Bradford manager in 2013 he beat Arsenal, Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic on the way to the League Cup final, then won promotion via the play-offs. Former Bradford joint chairman Julian Rhodes believes Parkinson will not let anyone look beyond the next match and will not tolerate slacking before Chelsea.

First come back-to-back home games with Ipswich Town and Portsmouth, then a trip to Charlton Athletic. With goal difference keeping Wrexham out of the top six after twice leading on Tuesday, further slip-ups could prove costly. Midfielder Lewis O’Brien warns the 10,500-capacity SToK Cae Ras is a cold, windy place to visit at night, and excitement is building for what could be the club’s biggest day since Arsenal were felled in 1992.

Source: NY Times