Wrexham FA Cup preview

[Sweden Stag]

After the League Cup exit against Port Vale last Tuesday in front of the previewer being able to watch that fixture overseas, another cup game is on the Stags menue this Saturday. And now, it is the first round of the FA Cup with Wrexham as visitors. One month ago, the sides played out a goal-less League Two draw. For more on previous league games between the sides, see the preview on the league fixture a month ago.

Both the Stags and the Dragons have good FA Cup history. While the Stags reached the quarter-finals way back in 1968-69, beating Tow Law, Rotherham after a replay, Sheffield United, Southend and most notably West Ham, the finalists-to-be Leicester won by the only goal at Field Mill on March 8, 1969. That season, it was also the first time ever, the Stags had beaten a top-flight side in any cup competition.

On the other hand, Wrexham have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions, all as a third-tier club, in 1973-74, 1977-78 and 1996-97 respectively after having kayoed sides like Southampton, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and also West Ham on their different ways to the quarter-finals.

But their best act of giant-killing came on January 4, 1992, when the 1990-91 First division Champions Arsenal where drawn to play at Wrexham, who themselves finished bottom of the entire FL in 1990-91 without being relegated due to the FL being expanded then. Long time at Racecourse, it seemed to go to plan for Arsenal, leading 1-0. But two Wrexham goals inside a few minutes late on plotted a Wrexham giant-killing to the tune of a 2-1 scoreline, which earned Wrexham an away game at West Ham, of all sides. Well there, Wrexham gained a 2-2 draw at Upton Park before going out in the replay. Wrexham were to get their revenge a few seasons later.

Last season, Wrexham reached the fourth round after having beaten Coventry away in the third round, before making Sheffield United play twice, while the Stags bowed out at Sheffield Wednesday in the second round.

The Stags have faced Wrexham before in the FA Cup.

This happened in 1975-76 when the teams clashed six times in all competitions, three times in the FA Cup before the Stags went through. A few months earlier, the Stags had disposed of Wrexham in the League Cup as well on the way to the quarter-finals of that competition. In the FA Cup, the Stags went through at the third attempt. This was at a current PL ground where the Stags in fact gained maximum points twice in the early seventies! The FA Cup second replay was won 2-1 thanks to Mick Laverick and a Wrexham own-goal. The ground: Villa Park, where the Stags beat Aston Villa 1-0 in successive seasons, 1970-71 and 1971-72 respectively (scorers Partridge in 1970 and Jones in 1971, both games early on in the corresponding seasons).

For details on previous league fixtures and players having appeared for both sides, see the preview on the most recent league fixture.

Elsewhere, there are quite a few intriguing first round ties. Sheppey United, one of the lowest-ranked sides left, face Walsall at home while Cray Valley Paper Mills entertain Charlton at their place. Marine, who a few seasons ago reached the third round and there exited against Tottenham at home, are drawn at home to Harrogate Town, a side the Stags routed in the League recently. Hereford will surely relish the chance of adding another scalp as the Bulls are drawn at home to Gillingham. In the second round, at least seven sides outside the FL will feature due to the first round draw. Plum ties: Chester against York, Yeovil against Gateshead. Will there also be some giant-killings? Whitby Town are drawn away to Bristol Rovers, Chesterfield are drawn at home to Portsmouth, while last season’s quarter-finalists Grimsby Town are drawn away to Slough, a side which in the 2012-13 season made the Stags play twice before going out on penalties in the replay at their place.

Previous Cup games:

FA Cup:

1975-76 1-1 1975-11-22 1st round at Field Mill
1975-76 1-1 1975-11-24 1st round replay at Wrexham
1975-76 2-1 1975-12-08 1st round 2nd replay at Villa Park, Birmingham

League Cup:

1975-76 2-1 1975-09-10 2nd round at Wrexham
2000-01 0-1 2000-08-22 1st round, 1st leg at Meadow Lane, Nottingham due to work at Field Mill
2000-01 3-0 2000-09-05 1st round, 2nd leg at Wrexham (the Stags through 3-1 on aggregate)

FA Trophy:

2008-09 1-2 2008-12-13 1st round at Wrexham

Come on Mansfield!