by Wrexham and their Hollywood owners will be out of a Premier League draw in the FA Cup this season, having come agonizingly short of the fifth round and meeting with Tottenham.
The National League side, backed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, would have faced Spurs had they won a replay against Sheffield United on Tuesday after drawing 3-3 in the original game.
But Premier League hopefuls United were delighted to dump Wrexham out of the competition after a pair of late goals secured a 3-1 home win at Bramall Lane.
Wrexham had threatened to turn another gripping encounter upside down when Paul Mullin canceled Anel Ahmedhodzic’s opener from the penalty spot and then stepped forward to take a second penalty, having earned both himself.
However, Blades goalkeeper Adam Davies brilliantly saved the second penalty, and the Championship side settled the tie on the counter-attack in the dying minutes when Billy Sharp scored in the 94th minute and Sander Berge added a decisive factor in the 96th.
Sharp was particularly enthusiastic about his role in knocking out Wrexham, having been frustrated by the underdogs’ attitude towards United, as he later explained.
“It was a great cup match over the two games,” Sharp told ITV Sport. “[Wrexham] excellently played. However, I think they have been disrespectful.
“Before the game there were a few things that we thought were already over. I’m glad we beat them.
“They are doing well in their league, we are doing well in ours. I wasn’t happy with some of their players tonight, but we have one left. Good luck to them with promotion.”
“Hopefully we’ve put them to bed now because I wasn’t happy with some of their players.
“I was a little frustrated at the end – I probably should have stopped the game sooner, but it’s one of those things. I wanted to win and go to the next round.”
Asked to expand on his comments, Sharp added to Wrexham: “I wasn’t happy with the way they were as a club. Before the game they watched Spurs and they didn’t even beat us.
“We are a fair bunch of guys and we want to go as far as we can in this competition. If we get beat in the next round then so be it. We will do well.
“I think they thought we would just roll over if they got back in. I think the referee helped them all night too. I don’t think he fouled me all night but it’s one of those things.
“I’ve probably lost my head a bit but I have a smile on my face because we’re through to the next round of the cup and the boys deserve it.”
Deadpool star Reynolds wrote on Twitter: “So proud of these guys. And the 4,000+ away supporters who gave it their all.”
McElhenney, the creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, added, “I couldn’t be more proud of those men than I am right now. They absolutely gave it their all.”
The owners would have been concerned at the sight of star striker Mullin limping off injured, but McElhenney said in a second post: “Now let’s go win this f***ing league.”
