FA CUP
Who are the best Wrexham players?
The Welsh club play Sheffield United in the FA Cup fourth round, but who is the most likely player to have an influence on the game?
Wrexham’s mighty underdog story continues as they take on Sheffield United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, football’s oldest competition, today, 7 February. The first game between the two was a memorable affair for both sides, with a late goal from defender John Egan giving Sheffield United the chance to avoid embarrassment and take the tie to a replay. The challenge for Wrexham will be all the more difficult now they do not have their home crowd to support them, but nevertheless, the players will be looking to continue the dream that they have created for themselves.
Here is a look at which players might make the difference against Sheffield United on Tuesday:
Paul Mullin
Let’s begin with a goal machine. Mullin has 43 goals in 62 league appearances since joining Wrexham in the summer of 2021. Last season he was the club’s top scorer, winning club Player of the Season, club Goal of the Season as well as the National League’s Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards.
And he hasn’t stopped there: this season he scored against Blythe to qualify Wrexham for the cup before netting against Farnborough, Coventry and Oldham in following rounds. His 7 goals in 5 cup games mean the ex-Huddersfield Town man is in fine form and the Sheffield United defence will have a job on their hands containing him at Bramall Lane.
Elliott Lee
Lee came from Luton last season and it’s quite surprising, once you look at the numbers, why they let him go in the first place. So far this campaign he has 7 goals, with 2 of them coming in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. He scored a brace on his debut for the club and since then he has continued to fly. The 28-year-old dictates from the middle of the park and Sheffield United will have to have eyes in the back of their heads as he hangs around the edge of the box looking to add to his impressive tally.
Thomas O’Connor
Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, O’Connor scored against Sheffield United in the previous fixture between the two sides. His performance will be key for Wrexham if they are to progress, as the defensive midfielder will no doubt by asked to marshal in front of the centre-backs and stop any oncoming danger. Sheffield United’s 3-5-2 means the middle of the pitch is going to be congested, so the game will once again test O’Connor’s on-ball awareness and technical ability to the limit.
Ben Tozer
For the underdogs, it is as much about keeping out the goals as it is scoring them. Away from home, that saying becomes all the more important. Wrexham’s plan will be to stay in the match for as long as possible and keep the result alive. To do so, they will need a strong performance from Ben Tozer, the centre-back. Going up against Ollie McBurnie is not a pleasant thought for anyone, and not just because he can score goals. The physical battle will be interesting between these two players and the winner of that may just decide the outcome of the game.