Wrexham

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Davis Keillor-Dunn says he is "buzzing" after making only his second Wrexham appearance during Tuesday's Championship defeat to Hull City.

The 28-year-old forward has had to be patient since joining the Red Dragons from Barnsley on transfer deadline day in January.

Keillor Dunn played 20 minutes off the bench against the Tigers as Wrexham tried in vain to avoid a defeat to their promotion rivals at the Stok Cae Ras.

His only other involvement since signing for Wrexham was an 18-minute substitute appearance in the 2-0 home defeat to Millwall on 7 February.

"I'm buzzing to get on and get a few more minutes for the team," said Keillor-Dunn, who scored 16 goals in 34 appearances for Barnsley this season before returning to the club where he made six appearances in 2020.

"It was nice to get a couple of strikes on goal and a couple of touches in and around the box. That was a positive for me.

"The fixtures are coming so thick and fast at the moment, and that's a player's dream when you're trying to get minutes."

With Wales striker Kieffer Moore out injured, Keillor-Dunn will hope there's scope for more game time in Friday's Championship derby against Welsh rivals Swansea City at the Cae Ras.

Wrexham will aim to bounce back from the Hull defeat while the Swans will look to complete the double over Phil Parkinson's team having won the December match in Swansea 2-1.

"A little Welsh derby....if you can't get up for them, you can't get up for anything can you," said Keillor-Dunn.

"It'll be a packed-out stadium. These are the ones you want to play in.

"We're gutted about the Hull result, but we've still got a great opportunity ahead of us this season.

"We've got 10 games to go and we're strapping right in!"

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Phil Parkinson has urged his Wrexham players to close the gap to the sides above them in the Championship as opposed to looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack over the remainder of their play-off run-in.

The Red Dragons currently sit sixth but will move above Hull City into fifth if they can beat the Tigers at Stok Cae Ras tonight (19:45 GMT).

"With Hull, they've had some strange games," Parkinson said.

"If you look at Saturday, they had the chances to beat Millwall. Then you look at the Derby game where they won, it could have easily gone the other way.

"The Portsmouth game where they won, it could have gone the other way. They give up chances but they do create.

"But I said to the lads this morning that this is our chance tomorrow to reel a club back into the pack.

"We're going to go all out to achieve that and it's one almighty effort needed."

The contest with Sergej Jakirović's side will be the second of three games Wrexham play at home in a seven-day spell - with Swansea City heading to north Wales on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

And with both sides pushing for a top six place, Parkinson says his players are fully aware of the importance of the fixture against Hull.

"It's just a really exciting night for us," added the Wrexham manager.

"It's about the crowd turning up again, but I'm sure they will.

"I was having breakfast today around the lads and I could hear the talk from the lads about the focus being right on tomorrow night."

Midfielder George Dobson will miss the visit of Hull due to suspension.

Parkinson also confirmed Wrexham are monitoring the fitness of right wing-back Issa Kabore after he sat out the Chelsea fixture with a minor issue.

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Phil Parkinson believes Callum Doyle can "keep building his reputation" as the defender's improvement at Wrexham continues.

The 22-year-old produced an eye-catching display in the Red Dragons' 4-2 FA Cup fifth round defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.

Doyle - a permanent signing from Manchester City in the summer - scored his third goal and claimed his third assist of the campaign against Liam Rosenior's Premier League side.

It further typified his growing influence in north Wales.

Having started just six of the first 18 Championship matches Wrexham played following his move to Stok Cae Ras, the defender has gone on to start 18 successive games across all competitions.

"Doyley's obviously a talented player," Parkinson said.

"He's creating goals and scoring goals from left side centre-back and he's got better.

"Since he's been here he's really bought into what we've asked him to do.

"He's a very good player and he knows he's got to keep his focus every minute of every game and keep building his reputation and let his football do the talking."

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Striker Sam Smith says Wrexham must take their FA Cup performance against Chelsea into Tuesday's Championship game against promotion rivals Hull at the Stok Cae Ras (19:45 GMT).

For a big chunk of Saturday's first half Smith would have dreamed he was going to be Wrexham's fifth-round giant-killing hero, as he opened the scoring to shock the Premier League stars on a "special" night in north Wales.

But Chelsea equalised just before half-time and overcame another Wrexham goal from defender Callum Doyle as their Champions League quality shone though with a 4-2 extra time win.

"Credit to the staff, the players and everyone involved at the club - it was one of the best atmospheres I've known at the ground, 100 per cent," said Smith.

"I really hope everyone can be here again on Tuesday and go again."

Wrexham will be bidding to leapfrog Hull into fifth place on their return to league action.

"It was disappointing to lose to Chelsea but we've got to make sure we take that performance into Tuesday and the last 11 games, and see the positives," added the 28-year-old former Reading striker.

Smith's 18th-minute goal was his sixth in 12 league and cup appearances in 2026.

It was route-one stuff - a long ball over the top from Doyle, followed by a clever run from Smith that exploited Chelsea's high defensive line and a clinical near-post finish.

"It's something we work on," said Smith.

"[Callum] has got an outrageous left foot and I knew I'd cause them problems.

"As soon as Callum looked up, I thought I was in.

"My touch was good and the keeper was back-tracking. I hit it early and to score and hear the atmosphere afterwards...it was a special few minutes."

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It's a big game in the Championship play-off race as Wrexham return to league action after their FA Cup exploits to host Hull City on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Hours before the Red Dragons took Chelsea to extra-time before exiting the FA Cup in the fifth round on Saturday, the Tigers were a touch unfortunate to go down 3-1 at home to Millwall in another top-six battle.

It means City are fifth, three points ahead of Wrexham, who now have a game in hand, with seventh-placed Derby leading the play-off chasing pack a further three points adrift.

A home win would see Wrexham into the top-five for the first time this season and a win for either team could apply pressure to fourth-placed Ipswich, who visit Stoke the same evening.

• Wrexham are unbeaten in their past 10 home league games against Hull (W7 D3), with this the first time they're hosting the Tigers since a 2-2 draw in League One in October 2004.

• Following their 2-0 win in December, Hull are looking to complete the league double over Wrexham for the first time since 1948-49.

• Wrexham have won nine of their past 13 league games (D2 L2), though both defeats in that run came in home games.

• Hull City have lost just one of their past nine away league games (W7 D1), though it did come at Ipswich Town last time out on the road.

• Wrexham's Josh Windass has scored three goals in his seven league appearances against Hull. His sides have won all three games in which he scored, but lost all four in which he didn't.

Pundits Ellen White and Glenn Murray join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday and Sunday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Port Vale 1-0 Sunderland

• Fulham 0-1 Southampton

• Leeds 3-0 Norwich

• Wrexham 2-3 Chelsea

• Newcastle 1-3 Man City

• Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal

• Wolves 1-3 Liverpool

There are three fifth-round ties in the FA Cup on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Mansfield Town v Arsenal (12:15) - BBC Radio Nottingham

• Wrexham v Chelsea (17:30) - BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Manchester City (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Newcastle & BBC Radio Manchester

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Wrexham v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man City".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

How to follow the FA Cup fifth round on the BBC

I am at this game for Radio 5 Live and am really looking forward to it.

The whole story of Wrexham's rise is incredible. They have had three successive promotions and are in with a chance of a fourth this season too.

Yes, they have splashed some cash along the way, but they have still had to spend that money the right way, to find the right players to fit into their system.

Their manager Phil Parkinson has done an incredible job because they have adapted and evolved each time they have made a step up, and they must be excited about this tie too.

I still fancy Chelsea to get past them, though. They outclassed another high-flying Championship side, Hull City, in round four and I think they will have too much quality for Wrexham.

Every defeat for Chelsea is always seen as being the end of the world but they got a great win against Aston Villa on Wednesday. Like most people I had taken Joao Pedro out of my fantasy team, so of course he went and scored a hat-trick.

Blues boss Liam Rosenior has done a good job so far. His target has to be Champions League football, but of course he would love to win the FA Cup.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

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Many thousands of articles have been written and dozens of documentary episodes have been aired on Disney+ about the recent and rapid rise of Wrexham AFC.

Since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds purchased the club in February 2021 for an estimated £2m – and Phil Parkinson was installed as manager – they have ascended three divisions in the past three seasons and now sit in a Championship play-off position.

A fourth successive promotion is a distinct possibility. Their march up the leagues has been temporarily halted for this FA Cup date with Chelsea – the first meeting between the sides in 44 years.

Parkinson's side have already dispatched top-flight opposition in the cup this season, with a penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest in round three, and the 58-year-old was the last manager to knock the Blues out of the FA Cup with a non-Premier League side when his League One Bradford City achieved a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in 2015. Jose Mourinho was Chelsea boss at the time.

It's unlikely the visitors will be daunted by the occasion and they have already made light work of second-tier opposition in this season's competition. A 5-1 thrashing of Charlton Athletic in head coach Liam Rosenior's first game in charge was followed by a 4-0 victory over Hull City, with both triumphs occurring away from home.

The Blues arrive in north Wales fresh from a comprehensive 4-1 win at Aston Villa, which was arguably the most complete display of Rosenior's two months at the helm.

Only 21 league places will separate the sides come kick-off on Saturday, but you only need to cast your mind back three years to illustrate the obvious gulf that still remains. Both clubs played on this day in 2023 and both were victorious, but at very different levels of football.

Wrexham cruised to a 4-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge as they conquered all before them to win the National League with a record 111 points, while just 18 miles down the road Chelsea defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in a Champions League last 16 fixture.

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Did you know?

• Chelsea have progressed from each of their past 24 FA Cup ties against lower league opposition. However, their last defeat to a non-Premier League side in this competition was a 4-2 home reverse to Phil Parkinson's Bradford City in January 2015 in the fourth round.

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Captain Dom Hyam says Wrexham's focus is to reach the Premier League - but facing top-flight Chelsea in the FA Cup is an "amazing" distraction from their season aim.

Hyam led Phil Parkinson's side as they beat Charlton last weekend, a result that added to the belief that a potential fourth straight promotion is possible.

With 11 games of the Championship season remaining, Wrexham sit sixth in the table and have two home games against Hull City and Swansea City to come following the Chelsea game.

But Hyam says facing Liam Rosenior's side in Saturday's fifth round tie at the Stok Cae Ras (17:45 GMT) will be a nice distraction from the league as Wrexham push for a play-off finish and a chance of reaching the top-flight for the first time in the club's history.

"It could be deemed as a distraction but what an amazing distraction it is," said Hyam. "You want to play against the best teams and the best players - it's what you work hard for, to play against Premier League teams in the FA Cup.

"Hopefully we can be there one day and be a Premier League team playing someone in the FA Cup too."

Hyam knows just how tough Saturday's FA Cup fifth round game will be, Chelsea having impressed in a midweek 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

This will be first meeting between between the sides since 1982 and Hyam is excited about testing himself against some of the best players in the world.

"They've got a lot of strengths being in the division above but like any sort of traditional match day we'll come together and talk about game plans and how we can beat them," said Hyam

"Every player wants to play against the best players in the best leagues, so hopefully we can put in a good account of ourselves."

Since joining Wrexham from Blackburn Rovers in September 2025 the defender's form for the Dragons has given him a chance of catching the eye of Scotland manager Steve Clarke before this summer's World Cup.

Hyam's only cap so far was in 2023 against Norway and the 30-year-old is hoping his performances will be rewarded with an international return.

"I've got to do what I can control, and that's my performances with Wrexham," said Hyam, who was most recently in the Scotland squad for the game with Belarus in September.

"I'll give myself the best opportunity to do that, hopefully stay in the team and hopefully be fit and healthy. At the end of the day, that's all I can do, and then hopefully I can get the call."

Image source, Rex Features

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson thinks expanding the play-offs will make for an even tighter Championship next season.

EFL clubs this week voted in favour of increasing the end-of-season format to six clubs from four from the 2026-2027 campaign.

Parkinson – whose side are the Championship play-off positions – insisted his focus is still on the current campaign as they bid for a fourth successive promotion.

But he admitted it will boost the hopes of fans, adding "This season is alive with so many teams trying to get in to the top six so bringing eighth into it is going to make it even tighter next year.

"I need to read it up on that in a bit more detail, but for a supporter it gives more teams the hope that they can get into the Premier League, which is obviously the aim of every single team in the Championship. Everyone's got to believe they can do that, and obviously it opens the door up a little bit wider."

The format will copy that of the National League where there is a greater advantage for the sides who finish higher.

Wrexham, though, missed out in the play-offs semi-finals in Parkinson's first season in north Wales, despite finishing second.

There have also been calls to shake up the promotion system for the National League to add an extra automatic spot.

But Parkinson pondered whether that will get the green light.

"The National League is a very tough league to get out of - and if you look at it now, there are teams having good seasons, but are not going to make the automatic promotion.

"I think it's going to be a hard thing to vote through because the League Two teams are going to have to agree to it.

"Wrexham got caught in the division for 15 years and had some near misses along the way and it does seem fair to create that extra place, but I do think that it's going to be tough to make that happen because the way the votes will have to go."