FA Cup

AND THEY say that they don’t make them like this anymore.Yet Phil Parkinson’s National League heroes still starred in their own Hollywood–made Oscar winner.
Paul Mullin’s 86th minute goal was cancelled out by Sheffield United in stoppage timeCredit: AFP
John Egan netted a dramatic equaliser to rescue a replay for the BladesCredit: Alamy
Hollywood owner Ryan Reynolds celebrated in the stands but was left heartbroken late onCredit: AFP
At one point it was all too much for the film starCredit: AFP
James Jones scooped in an equaliser for Wrexham after they fell 1-0 behindCredit: Getty
Thomas O’Connor slammed home from a corner to put the hosts 2-1 upCredit: AFP
One that looked like being a real weepie but turned into blockbuster that had everyone on the edge of their seats right to the last kick.
Paul Mullin thought he had become the hero figure at the end, this season’s FA Cup top scorer grabbing his ninth goal in seven ties with the coolest of finishes.
Yet while he proved why he is Wrexham’s leading man – that’s 55 goals in 70 games for the club – ten–man Sheffield United showed they are true grit.
Deep into time added on John Egan popped up from nowhere to force a sequel at Bramall Lane – and on the basis of this drama tickets for it will fly out the doors.
Read More In Football
Paul Heckingbotham, having seen Daniel Jebbison red-carded for a kick on Red Dragons club captain Ben Tozer in the 70th minute, will be as relieved as opposite number Parkinson was disappointed amidst the closing scenes that promise so much more in the sequel.
Wrexham tunes of glory echoed around the Racecourse Ground, just before the first whistle a stirring rendition of the Declan Swans – a song about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
What was mainly lost in the electric atmosphere within the famous old ground was that the Blades are on quite a journey of their own.
Parkinson’s players are rightly proud of the charge that is propelling them back to the Football League under the guidance of A-lister owners.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Their 3–0 midweek win over Gateshead extended their club record unbeaten run to 22 games.
And as always these days, they were playing in front of a 10,000 sellout.
You couldn’t buy a home shirt for love or money.
Not just before the game.
It’s been that way for most of the season and now there was the chance of Dragons slaying giants.
As McElhenney declared on social media: “Take on a side three leagues and 70 points above us? God, I love this game.”
He can’t have been loving it that much as Oli McBurnie’s early header sailed past goalkeeper Mark Howard.
McElhenney’s partner Reynolds, who had been bouncing around the stadium for hours said not long before the teams appeared, said: “There is something special about this town.
“The fact Wrexham have become a tourist destination for so many folks and they are showing up here.”
The club has indeed becoming a global attraction for the pair who oversaw the documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ about their takeover of two years ago.
Except this welcome was really a brutal reminder that the Blades did, indeed, start the clash 70 places above their ambitious hosts.
They are 12 points above third–placed Middlesbrough, they haven’t lost since the restart following the World Cup, and have won seven out of eight games.
And as they proved, they are sharp.
McBurnie saw the opportunity as the Wrexham defence, maybe still a little overwhelmed by the noise and the atmosphere – the whole big deal of it all – stood still.
He didn’t, spinning away from his marker, with nothing Howard could do to stop him.
Things only went from bad to worse for Parkinson’s side.
While United celebrated Jordan Tunnicliffe was lying within a collapsed advertising hoarding, having slumped onto it with a hamstring injury.
He had to be replaced by Max Cleworth and by the 10th minute centre back Aaron Hayden was giving away to James Jones after damaging a calf muscle.
There had been so much Sky Blue thinking around the club after the wild ride that was a 4–3 third round win over Coventry City.
But this was the most miserable of starts and had Jaden Boggel and Jebbison made more of opportunities Wrexham’s incredible journey would have hit the buffers.
And they might have crumbled.
After that nightmare start in the club’s first appearance in the fourth round since 2000 plenty would have understood had they done so.
But what is happening at the Racecourse is more than a celluloid fantasy and Parkinson’s men started making themselves heroes.
They were helped in their comeback quest by goalkeeper Adam Davies, one of five United changes, who dropped the ball and caused 49th minute panic amongst his defenders.
As they were still trying to calm down sixty second later as Wrexham breathed fire and sub Jones stabbed home from close range.
The sheer intensity of what came next bent the Blades completely out of shape and Tom O’Connor was perfectly placed to latch onto a desperate clearance and smash home.
And when Mullin hit the net four minutes from time – the second–placed Championship side still reeling from Jebberson’s dismissal – it seemed like the perfect finale.
Read More on The Sun
But central defender Egan had the last word.
In Episode One, at least.
Oli McBurnie headed Sheffield United into an early leadCredit: Getty
Oliver Norwood levelled it up at 2-2Credit: Getty More

GRIMSBY TOWN’S photographer became an unlikely hit after he was spotted wildly joining in his club’s goal celebration yesterday.The Mariners are mid-table in League Two but they put that up-and-down form to one side for the FA Cup.
Grimsby’s cameraman was leaping for joy after the equaliser at LutonCredit: Twitter / @BBCMOTD
He then tried to regain his composure to record the wild scenesCredit: Twitter / @BBCMOTD

They travelled to Championship club Luton Town in the fourth round and played their part in a thrilling 2-2 draw to earn a replay.
But despite Grimsby’s heroes securing a replay against the team sitting 57 places above them in the Football League pyramid, it was their official cameraman who went viral.
The visitors took the lead through Gavin Holohan seconds before the break but they were pegged back moments after half time courtesy of a Elijah Adebayo penalty.
Jordan Clark then put the Hatters ahead but within a minute Grimsby had an equaliser.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Harry Clifton stabbed home and raced towards the jubilant fans in the away end.
The club’s cameraman was also stood next to the goal in front of the supporters and he proceeded to jump in the air and pump his fist next to the players. 
Liam Emmerson, Grimsby’s digital content creator, then quickly composed himself and proceeded to snap pictures of the wild celebrations.
The unlikely star soon went viral after Match of the Day shared footage of the scenes, and he reacted to the video on Twitter by posting a crying emoji alongside the words: “Oh hell.”
Most read in FA Cup
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Emmerson later shared a screenshot of him leaping into the air during the celebrations and captioned it with “#newprofilepic”.
One fan commented: “With that leap Liam could do a job at set pieces.”
While another wrote: “Fantastic. Love that.”
That was not the only highlight from the memorable afternoon at Kenilworth Road after the game suffered a short delay after the sprinklers were accidentally set off just moments after kick-off. More

WREXHAM defender Jordan Tunnicliffe was forced off in the FA Cup after suffering a freak injury. Oli McBurnie put Sheffield United 1-0 up just two minutes in at the Racecourse Ground.
ordan Tunnicliffe was forced off in the FA Cup after suffering a freak injury
But during his celebration, he managed to accidently injure Tunnicliffe.
As McBurnie followed through with his bullet header, he collided into team-mate James McAtee, wiping out the midfielder.
The striker then continued with momentum and crashed into Tunnicliffe.
The centre-back lasted just three more minutes until he had to be subbed off for Max George Cleworth.
READ MORE IN football
Wrexham’s woes then worsened just minutes later as they were forced into another change.
Defender Aaron Hayden had to make way for James Jones, making it two forced substitutions inside 10 minutes.
One half of Wrexham’s Hollywood ownership was in attendance for the cup match.
Movie star Ryan Reynolds joined Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Mark Hughes on BBC 1.
Most read in FA Cup
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
But his business partner Rob McElhenney is still in America, where filming for the 16th series of his show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has started.
Reynolds said: “I’m standing amongst legends here.
“It has been the greatest experience of my entire life, not withstanding my family.
“It’s going to be multi decade project, and everything it entails is just magic. We wanted to get involved.
“We looked at a bunch of different clubs but Wrexham just spoke to us, the club was already perfect, it just needed a bit of awareness.
“We’re not here to make decisions on the pitch. I look at this place like a church. It’s got a special place in my heart, and it’s spreading across the world.
“The plan is to get to the Premier League, If it’s theoretically possible then why not? That is the goal.
“Realistically the fact that we’re in this church, if I were Sheffield United, I’d be taking this game very seriously.”
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds with Gary Lineker and Alan ShearerCredit: PA More

KAORU MITOMA ripped the FA Cup from Liverpool’s grasp with a sensational stoppage-time winner for rampant Brighton.The Japanese international struck right at the death with an unstoppable 92nd minute shot into the top corner to pile even more pressure on the struggling Merseysiders.
Kaoru Mitoma scored a dramatic winner for BrightonCredit: Reuters
Mitoma kept his cool to send Brighton into the fifth round of the FA CupCredit: AFP
Harvey Elliott had put Liverpool ahead on the half hour markCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Lewis Dunk diverted in the equaliser from a Tariq Lamptey shotCredit: Reuters
And Jurgen Klopp must be wondering how he stops the rot after a ninth defeat of the season left his team deep in the doldrums.
The visitors had been fortunate to get away with a blatant foul on the edge of the area by Ibrahima Konate which appeared to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity to Alexis Mac Allister.
But Roberto De Zebri’s unflappable Seagulls refused to settle for an Anfield replay and were full value for their place in the fifth round draw.
Yet Liverpool could have been ahead as early as the fourth minute when Naby Keita set up Mo Salah for a shot which was blocked by Adam Webster before the Egyptian’s follow-up was hooked off the line by Lewis Dunk.
Read More In Football
And it was clear right from the off that the visitors were not going to just sit back and allow Brighton to dictate the pace like they had done when they last visited the Amex two weeks ago.
But those attacking intentions also left them vulnerable to the counter attack and they were fortunate not to fall behind when Andy Robertson was caught out of position after 15 minutes.
The full-back’s absence allowed Solly March to race into the vacant channel before delivering a low cross for Evan Ferguson’s low shot to draw a goal-line clearance from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool were again struggling to cope with the pace and trickery of Mitoma, whose recent emergence was behind the club’s recent decision to allow Leandro Trossard to join Arsenal.
Most read in FA Cup
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
The Japan international looked a threat every time he received the ball and one mazy run and exchange of passes with Ferguson was only halted by a full-stretch save from Alisson.
Liverpool, though, kept throwing men forward and should have been ahead when Harvey Elliott’s 25th-minute through ball sent Salah bearing down on goal.
But with only keeper Jason Steele to beat, Salah uncharacteristically dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Yet Brighton failed to heed that warning and were finally undone by the same Liverpool combination five minutes later.
This time it was Salah who was the provider, sliding in a low cross for Elliott to burst into the box and beat Steele with an unerring shot into the far corner.
Not so long ago that goal would have been enough to see off a Brighton team who were notorious for dominating possession without ever finishing their good approach work.
But those days are long gone and within nine minutes of falling behind they were back on level terms.
Alexander-Arnold’s clearing header from Mac Allister’s cross dropped invitingly for Tariq Lamptey to try his luck from the edge of the area but his shot still needed a massive deflection off skipper Dunk to wrong-foot Alisson.
After such a breathless first-half, it was hardly surprising that the relentless pace dropped after the break as both teams tried to find an opening.
Read More on The Sun
Brighton thought they had achieved that aim when Mitoma’s magnificent outside-of-the-boot cross picked out March right in front of goal.
But Alisson threw himself at the midfielder’s feet and was able to pull off a save which the travelling Liverpool fans thought would be enough to secure an Anfield replay until Mitoma’s last-gasp intervention.
Mitoma celebrates after his late winnerCredit: AP
Roberto De Zerbi congratulates Mitoma at full-timeCredit: AP More

FABINHO escaped a red card after a horror challenge on Brighton’s Evan Ferguson.The midfielder was on the field for only two minutes of Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat before he sunk his studs into the back of the Seagulls striker.
Fabinho escaped a red card after a horror challenge on Brighton’s Evan FergusonCredit: AFP
Fabinho was only shown yellow and VAR didn’t overturn the decisionCredit: Reuters
Evan Ferguson was helped off the field after Fabinho’s lungeCredit: Reuters
Fabinho was shown yellow but VAR refused to overturn it to a red – as the Brazilian avoided a sending off.
It left fans puzzled and they vented their disbelief at the decision on social media.
One said: “Fabinho literally knew it was a red and they still haven’t given it.”
Another said: “VAR is an absolute joke. Fabinho’s challenge on Ferguson is the clearest and most obvious red card you’ll see all season.”
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
One added: “That Fabinho challenge is one of the worst you’ll ever see.
“Absolutely f***ing shocking. How the f*** is VAR not turning that to a red card.”
Another added: “Should be a straight red for Fabinho there. Hope Ferguson is alright, lucky his Achilles is intact..”
Ferguson was taken off, replaced by Deniz Undav, and had to be helped down the tunnel as he cut a worried figure.
Most read in FA Cup
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
The drama on the field did not stop there though, as Brighton grabbed a dramatic late winner.
Left-back Pervis Estupinan took down a free-kick from Pascal Gross and lofted it into the box.
He picked out winger Kaoru Mitoma, who produced two magical touches to create space and fire pass Alisson.
But the celebrations could only really get started after a VAR check ruled Estupinan onside.
Harvey Elliott had opened the scoring on the half-hour mark only for Lewis Dunk to level nine minutes later.
And the Premier League sides looked to be heading for an Anfield replay before Mitoma’s late winner.
Kaoru Mitoma celebrates Brighton’s winnerCredit: AFP More