Wrexham defender Dan Scarr reckons his team cannot wait to test themselves against Cardiff City to try and prove the north now rules over the south when it comes to Welsh football.
Phil Parkinson’s side are on the verge of another landmark moment in their remarkable rise through the leagues, having reached this stage of the competition for the first time since 1977.
Victories over Hull City, Preston North End and Reading have set up the tantalising tie at the Racecourse Ground, where Wrexham will aim to book a first quarter-final appearance in almost half a century.
Scarr, who has had to remain patient for opportunities in a competitive squad, says the fixture has been circled in red on the players’ calendars since the moment the draw was announced earlier this month.
“I’m really looking forward to that one,” he said.
“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.”
Dan Scarr of Wrexham (left) challenges Kaly Sene of Middlesbrough. Pic. Alamy
The 30-year-old centre-back came off the bench during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, replacing the injured Lewis Brunt, and played a key role as Wrexham held one of the Championship’s leading teams at the Riverside Stadium.
It was only Scarr’s fourth league outing of the campaign, but he insists the intense competition for places is pushing everyone to raise their game.
“We’ve got a good squad, training’s intense all the time so everyone’s pushing each other,” he said.
“It’s good healthy competition, we all get on and want the best for each other and the team.”
That collective spirit has underpinned Wrexham’s climb through the divisions in recent years.
The club, enjoying life in the Championship after a whirlwind rise from the National League, now find themselves 16th in the table after a run of improved results.
READ MORE: The Lights May be Dodgy But The Future Still Looks Bright for Wrexham
A 1-0 victory over Oxford United last Wednesday and a hard-earned point at Middlesbrough have steadied their league form, but the focus now turns to the glamour of the Cup — and the first all-Welsh clash between these two clubs in over two decades.
Parkinson’s men will take confidence from their resilience against high-flying Boro, where Josh Windass’s deflected strike almost secured a memorable win before Hayden Hackney’s late equaliser.
The Wrexham boss believes that performance proved his side can compete with the Championship’s best.
“The structure without the ball was brilliant, but equally some of the football we played was excellent.,” said Parkinson.
“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 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.”
READ MORE: We Were Horrible . . . And I Loved it, Says Wrexham Boss Phil Parkinson
The injury to Brunt was a setback, but Parkinson singled out Scarr for praise after stepping in and impressing in testing circumstances.
Scarr’s determination and experience could again prove vital on Tuesday night when the Dragons host a Cardiff side who are flying high in League One.
The Bluebirds, led by new boss Brian Barry-Murphy, are top of the table after 13 games and chasing an immediate return to the Championship following relegation last season.
Their cup run has mirrored Wrexham’s in momentum, having dispatched Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town, and most notably Burnley, whom they defeated 2-1 at Turf Moor.
Despite a last-gasp defeat at Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, Cardiff’s blend of youth and experience — including Joel Colwill and Callum Robinson — has made them formidable opponents.
Tuesday’s meeting at the Racecourse promises to be one of the most highly anticipated Welsh fixtures in recent memory.
It marks the first time Wrexham have faced Cardiff since 2002, and the first time the North Wales side have been the higher-ranked of the two since the early 1980s — a symbol of their rapid resurgence.
Wrexham have already dispatched three Championship sides en route to this stage, and victory over their southern rivals would underline how far Parkinson’s men have come in a short space of time.
For Scarr, though, it’s about the occasion, the energy, and the opportunity to create another memorable night in front of a packed Racecourse crowd.
“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.”
⚽ Wrexham vs Cardiff City — Match Factfile
📍 Venue: STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground), Wrexham
📅 Date: Tuesday 22 October 2025
⏰ Kick-off: 8.00pm (UK time)
📺 Live on: Sky Sports Football & EFL Live
💥 Headline
Wrexham eye a first EFL Cup quarter-final since 1978 as Dan Scarr says the squad are “buzzing” for the all-Welsh clash under the lights.
🧾 Competition
EFL Cup – Fourth Round
🔎 Players to Watch
Wrexham: Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead, Dan Scarr
Cardiff City: Joel Colwill, Callum Robinson, Perry Ng
💬 Coach’s View
“If ever a performance has got to give the lads confidence and belief that we’re a decent side, it’s today,” said Phil Parkinson.
“The lads are already buzzing for it. Hopefully we can get the ground rocking and get through to the next round,” added Dan Scarr.
💷 What’s at Stake
A place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time in nearly five decades — and Welsh bragging rights in the first meeting between the clubs since 2002.
📈 Odds
Wrexham 11/8
Draw 5/2
Cardiff City 9/4
(via DragonBet – https://dragonbet.co.uk/event/124463385/wrexham-vs-cardiff-city)
