Sports
Wrexham set sights on Premier League after tough Chelsea loss
WREXHAM, Wales — Phil Parkinson said Wrexham’s next target is to make games against Chelsea a regular occasion in the Premier League after the EFL Championship team exited the FA Cup with a 4-2 fifth-round defeat against the FIFA Club World Cup winners.
Despite twice taking the lead in a pulsating tie at Stok Cae Ras, Wrexham were ultimately beaten in extra time following a 90th-minute red card for midfielder George Dobson.
But after coming close to defeating Liam Rosenior’s team during 90 minutes, Parkinson said that Wrexham, which occupy a playoff spot in the Championship, now want to face the elite every week.
– Liam Rosenior admits Chelsea were ‘lucky’ to win Wrexham FA Cup tie
– Chelsea end Wrexham’s FA Cup run in extra time
– VAR review: Why was Wrexham’s Dobson sent off for his challenge on Garnacho?
“That has to be the aim, playing these teams,” Wrexham’s manager said. “That’s what you’re in football for, to have nights like this. We look forward to being involved in big games like this.
“It’s a huge gulf between the spending power in the Premier League and where we are in the Championship and where we’ve come from so quickly.
“It’s been a great cup run. Tonight was a great spectacle, and we were competitive against a very good side.
“We will take a lot of positives from it. We showed a lot of good aspects to our play and played some great football.
“We weren’t just trying to stop Chelsea — we believe we can play.”
Wrexham have already achieved a record three straight promotions since actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took charge of the team in England’s fifth tier five years ago. But the prize of the Premier League elite is now closer than ever.
“It has been the aim since day one [to get into the Premier League], it really has, nothing has really changed about that,” Reynolds told ESPN postmatch.
“It is just so moving to see how galvanizing it is around here, how these supporters just feel about this football club and how infectious it is and just to see people all over the world adopt Wrexham as sometimes their second team, sometimes their only team, it is a really beautiful thing,” Reynolds said.
Dobson’s red card and an extra time Lewis Brunt goal which was ruled out for offside were both decided by VAR, giving Wrexham a bitter first experience of the video assistant referee system used in the Premier League.
“VAR is up for debate, I don’t know, I think the chant was f— VAR,” Mac told ESPN. “At the end of the day, the rules are the rules, and I feel like we put on a really great performance, and it was reflected not only on the pitch but in the stadium.”
And Parkinson said that those decisions made the game much tougher for his players.
“The lads have given a lot tonight and to play extra time with 10 men is really hard,” he said.
“I know the rule is that it’s got to be a clear and obvious mistake, and I think the referee has to back his judgement [on the foul].
“Of course, when he’s been called over to the screen, he should have been kept on a yellow card.
“Offside is marginal, and we can’t complain if that’s offside, but I really don’t agree with VAR sending the referee to the screen and then him changing his mind.
“He had a great view of it. But we’ll take the positives of the evening and regroup. Tonight it wasn’t quite to be, but we were close.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoff matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on his official X handle.
However, Naqvi cautioned that the permission “comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts”.
Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well.
However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to… pic.twitter.com/SXtyhrIBpF
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 27, 2026
“He also conveyed his best wishes to all four teams competing in the PSL playoffs. Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,” he added.
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