Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy is set to take on a few old friends after being drawn against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup.
Wrexham beat Reading 2-0 on Tuesday night to book a spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and that left everybody dreaming of a big fish in Wednesday night’s draw.
Phil Parkinson wanted a top Premier League team, and while that didn’t happen, Wrexham were still given a fascinating tie.
Wrexham have been drawn against Cardiff City in round four, meaning the STōK Cae Ras will host a Welsh derby in October.
Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy discusses his friendship with Wrexham players
This promises to be a brilliant encounter, as Wrexham and Cardiff haven’t met for more than 20 years.
Wrexham last faced Cardiff in the FAW Premier Cup back in 2004, and you have to go back even further for the last league meeting.
The clash is still over a month away, but this is such an exciting draw – and that means players and managers are already being asked about the game.
Cardiff’s Callum Robinson claims he isn’t scared of Wrexham, and suggested that Phil Parkinson has a ‘big squad’ at his disposal.
Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy has also commented on the game and highlighted his friendship with some of the Wrexham squad.
Barry-Murphy previously coached Ollie Rathbone and Andy Cannon at Rochdale, and worked with Conor Coady at Leicester City as part of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching staff.
The Irishman told BBC Sport that he knows them all ‘really well’ and considers them to be friends to this day.
Barry-Murphy is focused on Cardiff’s upcoming League One games before facing Wrexham, but believes it will be a ‘great game’ at the STōK Cae Ras.
“I imagine that’s great news for everybody involved, even though at the moment it seems a lifetime away for us with bigger priorities on the horizon on Saturday,” said Barry-Murphy.
“I know a lot of players in the Wrexham squad who I know really well and consider friends. I worked with Conor Coady last year at Leicester, Ollie Rathbone, Andy Cannon [at Rochdale]. That will be a great day and I’m sure it’ll be a great game when it comes around, but from my point of view, the focus will be on Saturday before we start thinking about anything like that cup tie,” he added.
Wrexham fixtures before Carabao Cup clash with Cardiff City
We are already seeing Wrexham and Cardiff City fans going at each other on social media after Wednesday’s draw.
Those supporters may need to pace themselves a little, as Wrexham have a number of games to focus on before turning the attention to Cardiff.
Wrexham host Derby County this weekend, before a midweek trip to Leicester City and a home game against Tom Brady’s Birmingham City.
After the international break, Wrexham travel to Stoke City and Middlesbrough either side of hosting Oxford United, and only then does the Cardiff game arrive.
Phil Parkinson’s focus will be on those Championship games before even thinking about Cardiff, even with Welsh bragging rights on the line.