Wrexham and Sheffield United will face off in the Championship on Boxing Day in what could be a fiery clash

Wrexham and Sheffield United will renew acquaintances on Boxing Day after a fiery cup clash and a recent spat between Chris Wilder and Josh Windass.

The Championship match brings the sides back together almost three years after a feisty FA Cup fourth-round double-header that ended with the Blades accusing Wrexham of “disrespect”. Back in January 2023, Phil Parkinson’s then non-league side came within seconds of a famous upset when Paul Mullin struck in the 86th minute to put Wrexham ahead in a six-goal thriller in North Wales.

But John Egan’s 95th-minute header rescued a 3-3 draw for United and forced a replay. The second meeting at Bramall Lane was just as dramatic as a penalty from Mullin again levelled the tie and looked set to take the game to extra-time.

That was only for the Blades – three divisions higher at the time – to score twice in stoppage time through Sander Berge and Billy Sharp to seal a 3-1 win on the night. Emotions boiled over after the final whistle, with Sharp accusing Wrexham of overlooking the Blades and eyeing up a potential fifth-round tie before the replay had even been played.

He said: “It was a great cup tie over two games. They played excellent. I think they’ve been disrespectful, though. A few things before the game, thinking they were already through. I’m glad we’ve beaten them. I wasn’t happy with a few of their players tonight, but that’s it now – we’ve got one over on them tonight.”

Sharp later suggested a Wrexham social media post tagging potential opponents Tottenham ahead of the replay had fuelled his frustration, adding: “I wasn’t happy with the way they’ve been as a club, like before the game, eyeing up Spurs when they’ve not even beaten us.

“I think they thought we were just going to roll over when they got back in it. I think the referee was helping them all night as well. I don’t think he gave me one foul all night tonight.”

The striker was also involved in a heated exchange with Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson on the pitch and admitted he had “lost his head a little bit” after the final whistle. The bad blood adds extra spice to this season’s Championship meetings, particularly after United boss Chris Wilder appeared to take aim at Wrexham forward Josh Windass earlier this campaign.

Windass, who joined Wrexham in the summer after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, criticised the Blades’ celebrations following their 3-0 Steel City derby win at Hillsborough in November, suggesting they were excessive.

Speaking while covering the game as a Sky Sports pundit, he said: “I’m not sure about all these celebrations. Sheffield United were the favourites to go and win today with the squad of players they’ve got and the situation they’re in.”

Wilder later reacted angrily to those who claimed his side went overboard after the match, accusing their critics of talking “absolute nonsense” and insisting his players were fully entitled to celebrate a derby victory.

He said: “What do you want us to do, just walk straight back down the tunnel? It’s just absolute nonsense in my opinion. I don’t even have to answer. We don’t have to justify anything.”

With Wrexham now established in the Championship and United recently rising out of the relegation zone, the Boxing Day meeting promises to be a mouth-watering encounter.