Phil Parkinson's defining gesture as Wrexham dream of another FA Cup shock against Chelsea | OneFootball

Wrexham have drawn Chelsea at home in the FA Cup fifth round on the weekend of March 7/8, with kick-off to be confirmed. They reached the tie by beating Ipswich Town 1-0, Josh Windass scoring in the 34th minute.

"Everything just clicked for us against Chelsea." He told The Athletic in 2023.

In January 2015, while leading League One Bradford City, Parkinson oversaw a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge after falling 2-0 behind. Chelsea led through Ramires and Gary Cahill, before Jon Stead struck before half-time and Felipe Morais, Andy Halliday and Mark Yeates completed the turnaround.

In the final minutes Jose Mourinho approached the Bradford bench to congratulate him, yet with three and a half minutes left Parkinson declined the handshake to stay focused. He later said he would not be distracted, believing one Chelsea goal could become two.

"Jose Mourinho had been sat down but then he stood in the technical area with this look in his eyes, as if to say he knew the game was running away from him."

That mentality has underpinned Wrexham’s climb from the National League to the Championship. Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea will arrive as favourites at the Racecourse, where Parkinson’s intuition could again prove decisive.

Mourinho later visited the Bradford dressing room in what Parkinson considered a touch of class. Wrexham fans would welcome a similar scene, if the hosts first complete their own task on the touchline.

Source: Wales Online