Key events
14 min: Some long hoofs from end to end, to reflect what has been a disappointing contest so far.
11 min: Wrexham finally get near the Forest box but Sels in the Forest goal is under no threat from the cross and it’s headed away in any case.
8 min: Boos as Sayona takes his time over a throw. This game yet to catch light. Suppose that’s always likely with two unfamiliar teams facing each other.
7 min: Forest are back in numbers, showing respect for their opponents.
6 min: Wrexham’s style under Phil Parkinson is often up and at ‘em, but no Kieffer Moore. Morata concedes a free-kick, and there’s chance to get the ball into the box. And yet they take it short.
4 min: A Zinchenko pass finds an offside teammate. Is Sean Dyche still in shorts? Confirmation needed.
2 min: Early Forest chance, as Bakwa as is sent away down the left, and his ball inside is met by Igor Jesus, who cannot keep the ball on target.
Away we go at the Racecourse
1 min: Ryan Reynold is in the house. Rob Mac is at home, presumably. Boos as Forest pass the ball round the back as the home fans create quite a decent atmosphere.
The teams take to the field. Wrexham have a stories FA Cup history, while Forest have won this trophy twice, the last in 1959, when Elton John’s cousin scored one of the goals.
Big noise from both sets of fans on a chilly night in what used to be known as Clwyd.
Sean Dyche, of course, is wearing shorts as he carries out his pre-match duties.
Phil Parkinson, the Wrexham managerspoke to the BBC: ““When the draw came out we sat down as a staff and said that the aim was to get through the Christmas period in good form, and we managed to do that, and tonight I want the supporters, players and staff to enjoy the occasion. But, we will only enjoy it if we play somewhere near our maximum.”
Sean Dyche has been speaking to TNT: “We’ve got a quiet week next week and then it all picks up again in the Europa League. We’ve got some good players out there tonight so I expect a performance.
“We’ve had eight injuries to players, some that have proved themselves at this club and others who want to prove themselves, so the true fitness is not there in some of them, but we’ve got no choice but to use them. These are tricky games. I’ve made it absolutely clear to the players that our attitude has to be spot on.”
Four changes for WrexhamDan Scarr, Liberato Cacace, Ollie Rathbone and George Dobson in, with Max Cleworth, Matty James, Josh Windass and George Thomason out.
As predicted, Sean Dyche makes eight changes. Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson are the only survivors from this week’s win at West Ham.
Other FA Cup games tonight:
MK Dons v Oxford
Port Vale v Fleetwood
Preston v Wigan
The teams
Wrexham: Okonkwo, Scarr, Hyam, Doyle, Dobson, Sheaf, Longman, Rathbone, Broadhead, Cacace, Smith. Subs: Burton, Coady, McClean, Barnett, Thomason, O’Brien, Ashfield, Windass, Rodriguez.
Nottm Forest: Sels, Savona, Jair Cunha, Morato, Zinchenko, McAtee, Douglas Luiz, Hutchinson, Ndoye, Bakwa, Igor Jesus. Subs: Gunn, Williams, Murillo, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Milenkovic, Abbott.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Not everyone has bought into the Wrexham fairytale, of course.
Here’s a preview of the weekend, in the usual way.
Preamble
Would it be an FA Cup giantkilling if America’s team, the mighty Wrexham, beat Nottingham Forest? Though the Robins have play-off hopes very much alive their concerns are not as deep as Forest’s. Relegation is still a serious concern for Sean Dyche’s men, and their manager has some previous for concentrating on the league. It’s bound to be a decent atmosphere at the Racecourse so let’s consider the third round open, and let’s hope it starts in style.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm. Join me.
