Ollie Palmer is looking forward to another deep run in the FA Cup this season, describing last year’s trip to the fourth round as a “fantastic experience”.
Wrexham are currently unbeaten in eight games across all competitions. After a superb 2-0 away win at rivals Nott County last weekend, which puts the Reds third in League Two and just five points of league leaders Stockport, attention now turns to the cup competitions.
Wrexham take on League Two rivals Mansfield Town in the FA Cup first round on Saturday. The Dragons are hoping to build on last year’s run in the famous cup competition, where they lost to Sheffield United in a fourth round replay after beating another Championship side, Coventry, in the previous round.
The Reds were a whisker away from reaching the fifth round but Sheffield grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to draw 3-3 at The Racecourse. The Premier League-bound team went on to win the replay 3-1, but it was nevertheless a valiant effort from Phil Parkinson’s side.
Ollie Palmer hoping for deep run in FA Cup this season
Ahead of the game against Mansfield this weekend, Reds striker Ollie Palmer says he’s hoping for another deep cup run this season.
“We know how great the FA Cup is,” Palmer said. “We had a fantastic experience in it last season.
“It is good for the club, it is good for the community and it is good for the dressing room.
“We enjoyed the FA Cup, it gave everyone a lift. We will try and put on a good show for the fans and try to get through to the next round.
Reds boss says FA Cup helped team in National League last year
Phil Parkinson also said that those games against higher ranked opposition in the cup helped his team in their National League title pursuit.
“We utilised those games to test ourselves against better opposition,” he said.
“But also big occasions and how we responded in those situations and I felt it helped us.
“There’s a slightly different feel to the Mansfield one, but to get to one of those bigger teams in the third round, obviously these are tough games at the start like we had last year.”
It will be a difficult game against a League Two rival
It will be a tough game against Mansfield, who sit one place and a point below the Reds in League Two and remain the only unbeaten team in the top four tiers of English football.
The two sides played out a goalless draw in October, largely thanks to Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo’s heroics.
Palmer is expecting a similarly difficult challenge this weekend, but is optimistic of getting through to the next round.
“We are facing a very good side,” said the striker.
“We picked up a draw there already this season.
“We are going to go to Mansfield and try to win that game, and hopefully have a good cup run as well.”