Wrexham and Sheffield United renew rivalry after 'disrespect' jibe
Wrexham are now back in the Championship and will take on Sheffield United after some bad blood came out of their FA Cup clash several seasons ago where Billy Sharp after accused them of disrespect
Wrexham and Sheffield United will renew their rivalry this season in the Championship after an epic FA Cup saga that ended with the Welsh side being accused of "disrespect".
Back then Ryan Reynolds ' outfit were a non-league outfit, but pushed the Blades all the way in the FA Cup, eventually losing in a replay at Bramall Lane. They will square off again at the Racecourse Ground on Boxing Day with the return fixture being played on March 21.
Wrexham were denied a famous win in the fourth round of the FA Cup when John Egan headed in a 95th minute equaliser to tie up a six-goal thriller in Wales. Paul Mullin's strike in the 86th minute looked like it might win the day, but that wasn't the case.
Back in Yorkshire and Sheffield United, three leagues above their opponents were eventually able to get the job done. Mullin's penalty had made the game 1-1 and it looked set for extra-time.
That was until stoppage time when the Championship side scored twice through Sander Berge and then Billy Sharp to break Welsh hearts. A stellar set of cup matches had grabbed the attention, but Sharp added fuel to the fire after.
The Blades' frontman said: "I've got a smile on my face because we've got through to the next round of the cup and the boys deserved it." He said that with anything but a smile on his face.
'It was a great cup tie over two games. They played excellent. I think they've been disrespectful, though – a few things before the game, thinking they were already through. I'm glad we've beaten them. They're doing well in their league, we're doing well in ours. I wasn't happy with a few of their players tonight, but that's it now – we've got one over on them tonight. Good luck to them for promotion, and hopefully we've put that one to bed now.
'A few of their players, I wasn't happy with. Little bit frustrated at the end there – I probably should have put the game to bed before I did. It's one of those things. I want to win and I want to get through to the next round.'
Sharp was pressed on what had rattled him and seemed to hint at a tweet put out by Wrexham. The fifth round draw had been made with the non-league side tagging potential opponents Tottenham, even before they'd seen off the Sheffield outfit. Which clearly didn't sit well.
The striker said: 'I wasn't happy with the way they've been as a club, like before the game, eyeing up Spurs when they've not even beaten us. We're an honest set of lads and we want to go as far as we can in this competition.
"If we get beaten in the next round, so be it, we'll give it a right go. But I think they thought we were just going to roll over when they got back in it. I think the referee was helping them all night as well. I don't think he gave me one foul all night tonight. But, yeah, it's one of those things. I've probably lost my head a little bit, but I've got a smile on my face..."
Sharp was said to have shouted down the tunnel after the clash, which led Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson to simply say he was 'disappointed".
The striker has recalled the incident on Ben Foster's Fozcast as he explained: "I went over to my mum, my dad, wife, kids, my friends, as I normally do. I blow my kids a kiss, getting coins, having a bit of banter. I do a little crying gesture to the Wrexham fans – which I could have done a lot worse.
"Parky comes running over – 'What are you saying!' He is giving it loads because I'm having a bit of banter and his team has just got knocked out, I'm happy we've gone through and spoiled the underdog story. I've had a bit of beef with Parky before. No grudge. There was no need for him to get involved after the game."
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