Phil Parkinson hailed Wayne Rooney's praise of Wrexham following their FA Cup fifth-round clash against Chelsea as an 'incredible tribute' for the club. The Championship side pushed Premier League leaders Chelsea to extra-time before falling 4-2 at the Racecourse Ground, with England legend Rooney describing it as the most enjoyable match he'd watched since retiring.

Rooney, part of the BBC's punditry team, told The Wayne Rooney Show he thought Wrexham were 'excellent' and that it was 'a really good game.' The former England captain, who scored 53 goals in 120 caps, said it was his favorite match since watching Barcelona vs Inter Milan in last year's Champions League semi-finals. Wrexham's performance, despite seeing George Dobson sent off late in regular time, showcased their quality against the Club World Cup champions.

With their FA Cup run over, Wrexham refocus on Championship promotion. Sixth-placed Wrexham sit three points clear of seventh-place Derby County with 11 matches remaining. Manager Parkinson called it 'game on' as his side prepares for back-to-back home fixtures against Hull City and Swansea City, having won their past three league games. The Chelsea fixture, while ending in defeat, has set the stage for Wrexham's push toward the play-offs.