Wrexham

Unbeaten leaders Coventry go in search of a club record seventh straight win as they kick-off the Championship weekend with a Friday night trip to Wrexham (20:00 GMT).

The Sky Blues are three points ahead of second-placed Middlesbrough and with a goal difference of +25 after 12 games - more than double any other side in the division.

The Red Dragons drew 1-1 at Boro last Saturday to make it four points from their past two games and climb to 16th, five points clear of the drop-zone, though they did go down 2-1 at home to Cardiff in the EFL Cup fourth round on Tuesday night.

• This will be the first league meeting between Wrexham and Coventry City since February 1964, a third tier match which ended 1-1 between the two sides.

• Coventry City have won five of their eight league games against Wrexham in club history (D1 L2), scoring 3+ goals in four of those five victories.

• Wrexham have won just one of their six home league games so far this season (D3 L2), though that sole victory did come last time out at the Stok Cae Ras, beating Oxford United 1-0.

• Coventry remain unbeaten after 12 matches in the Championship this season (W8 D4), only the second time that they've reached this stage of a campaign without defeat after 1937-38 (first 15).

• Brandon Thomas-Asante is the Championship's top scorer so far this season with nine goals, one ahead of teammate Haji Wright; the last Coventry player to reach double figures for league goals prior to matchday 15 was Callum Wilson in the 2013-14 League One campaign who did so after 11 games.

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Dom Hyam opened up on the talk that boss Phil Parkinson gave to the Wrexham players in the aftermath of last weekend's 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.

Hayden Hackney's late header cancelled out Josh Windass' first-half opener as the points were shared at the Riverside Stadium.

And defender Hyam revealed Parkinson was determined to emphasise the remarkable nature of the journey the club has been on over recent years in the aftermath of the draw with Boro.

"He (Parkinson) was straight in the dressing room after," Hyam told BBC Sport Wales.

"We were disappointed to drop points and he just said it shows how far the club has come, that we've come away disappointed from the Riverside having only got a draw.

"We're an ambitious group and we want to win and get points from every game, but we know the games are hard so we'll take a point from there and move on."

Hyam will line up against his former employers Coventry City tonight as Wrexham look to cause a shock by ending the Sky Blues' unbeaten start to the Championship season.

And the 29-year-old feels Wrexham can take confidence from their draw with Middlesbrough for the visit of the league leaders.

"They're (Coventry) high-flying and playing with a lot of confidence," added Hyam.

"It's our job to make it difficult for them to come here and play their stuff.

"We go into it with confidence on the back of the Middlesbrough result and performance - we're confident going into the game with our league form that we can get something out of it."

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Ben Sheaf will be assessed before Wrexham's Championship fixture with the his former club Coventry City at the Stok Cae Ras on Friday (20:00 BST).

The 27-year-old midfielder has not featured for the Red Dragons since the 1-0 loss to Stoke City on 18 October due to a groin issue.

"Ben's getting there. We didn't play him on Tuesday [against Cardiff City] because he needed to train," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"We'll just assess him closer to kick-off, but we've got good options in the midfield area."

Ollie Rathbone made his long-awaited return to action against Cardiff in the fourth round of the EFL Cup in midweek after three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

"With Ollie, we made the changes at half-time, but he was always going to come off, maximum 60 minutes anyway. It was almost like a pre-season game for him, we've got to get him some minutes," explained Parkinson.

"He's trained really well to be fair to him, he's looked good. But it's hard to replicate the intensity of first-team football."

Having confirmed this week that defender Lewis Brunt has undergone surgery, Parkinson has been dealt another blow after it was confirmed midfielder Elliot Lee is likely to need a knee operation.

Discussing his side's long-term absentees, Parkinson said: "Andy [Cannon] is out on the training pitch every day working really hard.

"Jay [Rodriguez] is still in the gym frustrated to get back out working.

"Brunty had an operation this week, Elliot Lee is looking like he's going to have an operation on his knee as well.

"I'm not sure on the timescale of that one, it's a problem that's been troubling him for a while. It's been part and parcel, particularly for Jay and Andy, who have spent the whole season in rehab. But they'll appreciate it more when they're back."

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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."