Wrexham have been handed a mouthwatering Carabao Cup clash as Phil Parkinson prepares to face Welsh rivals Cardiff City.
After an impressive victory over Norwich City in the Championship, Wrexham beat Reading 2-0 at the STōK Cae Ras on Tuesday night.
Nathan Broadhead was the star with two goals in the second half, sending Wrexham through to the fourth round.
Phil Parkinson admitted wanting to face a Premier League side in round four, but the draw instead pitted Wrexham against Cardiff City.
Nathan Broadhead lands his dream Wrexham cup tie
Yes, seeing Liverpool or Manchester City arrive at the STōK Cae Ras would have been quite the spectacle.
Facing Cardiff is a huge occasion in its own right, though, and many will prefer this tie over facing a big Premier League side.
Wrexham and Cardiff have not played each other in more than 20 years, so the Carabao Cup meeting in October will be enormous for both teams.
Wrexham star Broadhead has actually received exactly what he wanted, having admitted that he fancied facing Cardiff in round four.
Speaking to BBC Sport before the draw was made, Broadhead stated he would ‘love’ to be drawn against Cardiff.
Broadhead’s father is a big Cardiff fan, and the Wrexham star noted that he is not sure just which side his dad would be on if the two sides met.
“I’d love Cardiff. My old man’s a Cardiff fan,” said Broadhead. “I don’t know what side he’d be on,” he added.
The draw has now matched Wrexham with Cardiff, so Broadhead’s father may just face some split loyalties next month.
Nathan Broadhead’s record against Cardiff City
Broadhead will now take on Cardiff for just the fourth time in his career.
The 27-year-old’s first game against Cardiff came during a loan spell with Wigan Athletic, playing just 20 minutes as a substitute in a 3-1 home defeat to the Bluebirds.
Broadhead started for Ipswich Town against Cardiff in 2023 and scored to kickstart a Tractor Boys fightback in a 3-2 win.
Broadhead then came off the bench against Cardiff later in the season, but Ipswich fell to a 2-1 defeat.
A goal in his only start against Cardiff may just leave some to feel that Broadhead can make a big impact for Wrexham against Brian Barry-Murphy’s side, and it would be little surprise to see him start against Cardiff in this huge Carabao Cup clash.