Wrexham

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The Stok Cae Ras will host Wales Under-19s next month as part of the build-up to next summer's 2026 Uefa Men's U19s European Championship which will be held in north Wales.

November's mini-tournament will see Craig Knight's Wales side face Germany, USA and Japan.

Matches will be played at several venues across the north, including Denbigh Town's Central Park and the Hops and Barley Community Stadium in Rhyl.

Wrexham will host Wales' game against the USA on Saturday, 15 November.

The Stok Cae Ras – the world's oldest international football stadium still hosting international matches – will be among the north Wales venues for next summer's European Championship finals.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson says a gruelling playing schedule meant he was forced into making a raft of changes to his starting side as they tumbled out of the Carabao Cup.

This Friday's home game against Championship leaders Coventry City (20:00 GMT) will be Wrexham's fifth game in 14 days.

For Tuesday night's last-16 tie with Cardiff City, Parkinson made seven changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough in the Championship.

He was without defender Lewis Brunt with injury and Callum Doyle through suspension, although Ben Sheaf and Ollie Rathbone passed late fitness calls.

That saw Nathan Broadhead start up front alongside Sam Smith in a mostly untested strike partnership, with key forward Kieffer Moore named on the bench.

"We made a lot of changes and we did that in a big game, but I've got to protect the squad as well," Parkinson said.

"I had to utilise the squad [against Cardiff]; Brunty picked up an injury at the weekend, we had Callum suspended... but we still should have done better."

With League One side Cardiff leading at half-time through Yousef Salech's opener, Parkinson was forced into a triple substitution at the break - with Moore, Josh Windass and Matty James replacing Smith, Broadhead and Ollie Rathbone.

The changes worked as Moore grabbed a swift equaliser, only for Cardiff to respond through Will Fish to seal a 2-1 victory.

"We're very frustrated in the manner of the defeat," Parkinson added.

"We spoke to the lads prior to the game about what to expect, but we just weren't at the levels we needed to be.

"Their pressing forced us into hurried passes which gave the ball away cheaply, and the other side we were five yards off them which made it too easy for them to play.

"It's something we've done better in recent weeks, I think everyone who has seen us play will have seen that.

"But [against Cardiff] the structure and the press and the work and the intensity of winning the ball back wasn't where it needed to be."

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says Cardiff City thoroughly deserve to be in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after outplaying hosts Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Goals from Yousef Salech and Will Fish, with Kieffer Moore having equalised for Wrexham, gave the League One Bluebirds a 2-1 victory against their Welsh rivals from the Championship.

"It was brilliant, there wasn't an empty seat in Stok Cae Ras," Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I think over 1,000 Cardiff fans had made the journey from south Wales. There was a bit of banter going on north versus south as you'd expect.

"Cardiff were absolutely exceptional from the first whistle to the last - they played well at Burnley on the 20th of September [knocking out the Premier League side in the previous round].

"First half [at Wrexham] it was men versus boys. Wrexham, they just didn't know how to handle Cardiff. They got that good early start with the early goal from Yusef Salech.

"They could have had more in the first half. Rubin Colwill smashed a free-kick against the bar. Callum Burton produced an outstanding save from Cian Ashford.

"It could have been three at half-time, to be fair. Phil [Parkinson, Wrexham manager] went to his bench at the start of the second half, he brought on Josh Windass, Kieffer Moore and Matty James.

"A momentum change - they got that early goal to equalise, but I have to say, the way they responded and the composure that the young Cardiff lads showed after conceding that equaliser, it was great to see from a Cardiff point of view, and fully deserved.

"They had more shots, twice as many shots on target. I think they had three times as many corners as Wrexham. So no luck involved - fully deserved to go through to the quarter-finals."

Adam Cottier
Final Score reporter

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For a long time during Saturday's game, Wrexham looked assured, composed and assertive.

The early goal came after an aggressive start, and their overall showing thereafter should give supporters more optimism for what's to come.

It was another positive result away from North Wales for Wrexham, and it could have been better.

Kieffer Moore had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0; a free header that he couldn't direct on target as he clipped the top of the bar.

It was a let off for Middlesbrough and they managed to salvage a draw to preserve their unbeaten start at home.

But this was another indication that Wrexham - at the very least - will have enough to consolidate their place in the second tier after so many years away.

They appear to have a carefully assembled squad of experienced campaigners in this league. They include Moore, goal scorer Josh Windass, and the excellent Dom Hyam in defence.

Wrexham earned a point in a 1-1 draw at promotion-hopefuls Middlesbrough on Saturday after taking an early lead at the Riverside.

Josh Windass' goal looked to have secured the win until 10 minutes when Hayden Hackney's header secured a point for Boro.

Manager Phil Parkinson said the should give his players the confidence that they can truly compete in the Championship – do you agree?

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Dan Scarr says Wrexham players are "buzzing" for their EFL Cup tie with Cardiff City on Tuesday night (20:00 BST).

Phil Parkinson's side have beaten Hull City, Preston North End and Reading to reach the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 1977.

And defender Scarr admits players have had an eye on the fixture with the Bluebirds since the draw was made earlier this month.

"I'm really looking forward to that one," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"There's been a few conversations about it already and we've had one eye on it.

"The fans are going to be behind us for that one. The lads are already buzzing for it.

"Hopefully we can get the ground rocking and get through to the next round."

Scarr came off the bench to replace the injured Lewis Brunt as Wrexham claimed a 1-1 draw with high-flying Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

It was just the defender's fourth league appearance of the season, and the 30-year-old says the competition for a starting berth is fierce at present.

"We've got a good squad, training's intense all the time so everyone's pushing each other," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"It's good healthy competition, we all get on and want the best for each other and the team.

"I'm gutted for Brunty, he's one of my close mates and he's been doing well but I'm sure he'll get on the mend quickly."

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham's performance against promotion-hopefuls Middlesbrough should give his players the confidence that they can truly compete in the Championship.

Josh Windass' deflected strike - his fourth goal of the season - in the seventh minute looked set to earn the visitors all three points at the Riverside Stadium.

But Hayden Hackney headed beyond Arthur Okonkwo in the 80th minute to earn Rob Edwards' side a point.

Despite being unable to hold on for the win, Parkinson feels his squad should take huge confidence from going toe to toe with the side who currently sit second in the table.

"If ever a performance has got to give the lads confidence and belief that we're a decent side, it's today," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"The structure without the ball was brilliant, but equally some of the football we played was excellent.

"Some of the play when we got it out to our wing-backs was outstanding. We've got a great goal from another well worked set play.

"I don't think we could have asked for any more from the lads from today, they've given us so much.

"I said to the lads before the game, 'we're not here just to stop Middlesbrough playing, we're here to play'. We've got players who can play. I still want more belief, and some of the football we played, I was very pleased."

Wrexham were dealt a blow in the first half as Lewis Brunt - who started in place of the suspended Callum Doyle - was forced off through injury.

But Parkinson praised Brunt's replacement Dan Scarr who was handed just a fourth league appearance of the season off the bench.

"We've lost Brunty, he's got a bad thigh injury and we had to reorganise the team," added Parkinson.

"A special mention for Scarry, I think he was brilliant when he came on. He's had to be patient. I just thought he was really strong and solid.

"We put Dom [Hyam] to the left and we know he can play all along the back three. That was one of the reasons we brought him in."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is relishing the opportunity to face Middlesbrough having watched icon Billy Ashcroft from the stands as a child.

Liverpool-born Ashcroft started his professional career with Wrexham and scored 72 goals in 219 appearances for the club before joining Boro in 1977.

The forward - who also played in central defence - spent five years in the north east of England before going on to have spells with FC Twente and Tranmere Rovers, and was among Parkinson's childhood heroes.

"From the age of eight I lived in Stockton-on-Tees and I used to go and watch Middlesbrough play a lot," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"The likes of Billy Ashcroft who was one of the first centre-forwards I watched when I was a youngster, who is obviously a Wrexham legend.

"It was great when I came to Wrexham to meet Billy, I used to stand on the terraces to watch him.

"So I've got some good memories of being in the stands watching some decent teams over the years."

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Liberato Cacace is hoping to repay the faith shown in him by manager Phil Parkinson after an injury-hit start to his Wrexham career.

The New Zealand defender missed a chunk of games after the Red Dragons' season opener at Southampton and did not feature for more than six weeks after playing 77 minutes in his side's 2-0 win at Millwall in late August.

But having come off the bench at Stoke City last weekend before starting in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Oxford United, Cacace now feels he is well placed to kick-on.

"He's (Parkinson) been great. It's been unfortunate with the injuries but hopefully now I can pay back the opportunities he's given me," the left wing-back told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was great to get 80 minutes the other day and great to get out of it injury free as well. Hopefully I can continue that form.

"Hopefully now I can just focus on getting some assists and goals for the team."

Wrexham will be hoping to build on their triumph over Oxford when they take on promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Boro sit second in the Championship table ahead of the meeting between the sides, having lost just once in their opening 11 league fixtures.

"They've shown on numerous occasions that they're a top-quality side," Cacace said of Boro.

"They've got some really good players and some great individuals that can hurt us.

"But we've got a game plan that we have to execute, and hopefully we can get that done.

"We'll attack every game like we did against Oxford. We've done pretty well away from home and we've just got to continue that momentum from the win against Oxford."

Middlesbrough and Wrexham will meet for the first time ever in the English Football League when they face off at the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 BST).

For Boro, victory could see them back at the apex should Coventry City fail to get a result earlier in the day against Watford.

Wrexham will not be able to escape the midtable with an additional three points to their name but they would begin a winning streak having beaten Oxford United last time out - and defeating Middlesbrough is something boss Phil Parkinson would love to add to his CV.

• This is the first ever league meeting between Middlesbrough and Wrexham – it's the first time Middlesbrough are facing a side for the first time since January 2021, winning 3-1 vs Wycombe.

• Wrexham and Middlesbrough last faced in December 1999 in the FA Cup, with the Welsh side winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Robin Gibson and Darren Ferguson.

• Middlesbrough have won eight of their last 11 home league matches (D2 L1), with their only defeat in this run coming against last season's champions Leeds in April.

• After losing their last away league game 1-0 to Stoke, Wrexham will be looking to avoid recording consecutive defeats on the road for just the third time since returning to the EFL in 2023 (January 2025 and a run of three in February 2024).

• Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has lost all four of his previous league meetings with Middlesbrough, losing both games in 2017-18 and 2018-19 with Bolton, failing to score in any match.

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Matty James feels Wrexham are continuing to grow into life in the Championship having earned their first home league win of the season.

The 1-0 triumph over Oxford United - courtesy of Nathan Broadhead's 14th minute strike - lifted Phil Parkinson's side up to 15th in the table.

And midfielder James says the increased competition for places has helped the Red Dragons settle into their first season in the second tier in more than four decades.

"I think in certain games where we've drawn or lost, certainly one or two at the start and in the last run, we probably should have come away with a win, so there's probably been a little bit of disappointment towards that," he said when assessing Wrexham's league campaign so far.

"But I think that the way the group is building, the competition in the group is extremely high. It's healthy.

"Every day on the training pitch, everybody's trying to get into the team.

"That's one of the key things for us now, to make sure whatever 11 goes out there, that we show the performance and the way that the gaffer wants us to play and make sure that we do that."

Wrexham return to action against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Their hectic schedule continues as they host Cardiff City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday before welcoming league leaders Coventry City to the Stok Cae Ras three days later.

And James feels Wrexham must relish the opportunity to consistently take on such strong opposition.

"People have talked about where Wrexham have been and to be here at this point now is amazing," added James.

"But for us as a group of staff and players, we want to go out there and win matches and climb the league as well.

"Middlesbrough is our next game, we've then got the League Cup game against Cardiff and then possibly top of the league [Coventry].

"But first and foremost we focus on [Middlesbrough] and make sure we go up there, with the capabilities this group has got, with belief and hopefully we'll come away with three points."

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It has taken them 24 years to get there, but Wrexham are the highest-placed Welsh club in the Football League following Tuesday's win over Oxford United.

The 1-0 victory at the Stok Cae Ras lifted Phil Parkinson's side up to 15th in the Championship, one place above Swansea City who were beaten 1-0 at home by Queens Park Rangers.

The two Welsh rivals are level on points and goal difference, but Wrexham sit above the Swans on the basis of goals scored.

It is the first time Wrexham have led the way for Welsh clubs in the EFL since May 2001, when the Red Dragons finished 10th in the old Division Two and Swansea finished 23rd and were relegated.

Cardiff City were in the division below and, after being promoted, were always above Wrexham the following season.

Technically, it is the second time this season Wrexham have been above Swansea - they were also in front on goals scored after the opening game of the campaign, when Swans lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough and Wrexham were beaten 2-1 at Southampton.

However, many would argue the league table counts for little just one game into the season, with Swansea and Wrexham having both now played 11.

Wrexham will hope to go clear of Swansea on points when they travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday, while Alan Sheehan's side have the chance to re-establish their position as highest Welsh side at home to struggling Norwich City.

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Wrexham trio Elliot Lee, Ben Sheaf and Ollie Rathbone are all being assessed after suffering minor injury setbacks.

Summer signing Sheaf was left out of the matchday squad for Wednesday night's 1-0 victory over Oxford United due to a groin issue.

Rathbone is yet to feature this season after being sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained in pre-season but felt a tightness in his thigh this week.

Lee, whose only appearances this season have come in the EFL Cup, has a knee complaint and is due to see a specialist.

But Phil Parkinson says none of the injuries are serious, with all three players set to be assessed prior to Saturday's contest with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium (15:00 BST).

"Ollie at the back end of last week had a bit of tightness in his thigh which he wasn't concerned about, but it flared up a little bit in training on Monday. We're in no need to risk him," said Parkinson.

"Sheaf, not a major injury at all, he struck a ball in training yesterday and felt a bit of tightness.

"With the players we've got, Matty [James], Dobbo [George Dobson] and Thommo [George Thomason], we had no need to take a risk with the players.

"Elliot Lee has got to see a specialist about his knee.

"They're not serious injuries and we'll get them back. From game to game, we've got to look at making changes and keep freshening the team up like we did today."

Wrexham remain without long-term absentees Jay Rodriguez, Danny Ward, Andy Cannon, Harry Ashfield and Aaron James.