Wrexham v Nottingham Forest: FA Cup third round – live

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Away we go at the Racecourse

1 min: Ryan Reynold is in the house. Rob Mac is at home, presumably. Boos as Forest pass the ball round the back as the home fans create quite a decent atmosphere.

The teams take to the field. Wrexham have a stories FA Cup history, while Forest have won this trophy twice, the last in 1959, when Elton John’s cousin scored one of the goals.

Big noise from both sets of fans on a chilly night in what used to be known as Clwyd.

The home side’s mascot, Wrex the Dragon, shows off some silky skills. Photograph: Peter Powell/Reuters

Ryan Reynolds, actor, entrepreneur and co-owner of Wrexham, poses for a selfie with members of the crowd. Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images

Sean Dyche, of course, is wearing shorts as he carries out his pre-match duties.

Phil Parkinson, the Wrexham manager, spoke to the BBC: ““When the draw came out we sat down as a staff and said that the aim was to get through the Christmas period in good form, and we managed to do that, and tonight I want the supporters, players and staff to enjoy the occasion. But, we will only enjoy it if we play somewhere near our maximum.”

Sean Dyche has been speaking to TNT: “We’ve got a quiet week next week and then it all picks up again in the Europa League. We’ve got some good players out there tonight so I expect a performance.

“We’ve had eight injuries to players, some that have proved themselves at this club and others who want to prove themselves, so the true fitness is not there in some of them, but we’ve got no choice but to use them. These are tricky games. I’ve made it absolutely clear to the players that our attitude has to be spot on.”

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche (centre right) gets his chat on with TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Four changes for Wrexham, Dan Scarr, Liberato Cacace, Ollie Rathbone and George Dobson in, with Max Cleworth, Matty James, Josh Windass and George Thomason out.

As predicted, Sean Dyche makes eight changes. Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson are the only survivors from this week’s win at West Ham.

Other FA Cup games tonight:

• MK Dons v Oxford

• Port Vale v Fleetwood

• Preston v Wigan

The teams

Wrexham: Okonkwo, Scarr, Hyam, Doyle, Dobson, Sheaf, Longman, Rathbone, Broadhead, Cacace, Smith. Subs: Burton, Coady, McClean, Barnett, Thomason, O’Brien, Ashfield, Windass, Rodriguez.

Nottm Forest: Sels, Savona, Jair Cunha, Morato, Zinchenko, McAtee, Douglas Luiz, Hutchinson, Ndoye, Bakwa, Igor Jesus. Subs: Gunn, Williams, Murillo, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Milenkovic, Abbott.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Not everyone has bought into the Wrexham fairytale, of course.

Here’s a preview of the weekend, in the usual way.

Preamble

Would it be an FA Cup giantkilling if America’s team, the mighty Wrexham, beat Nottingham Forest? Though the Robins have play-off hopes very much alive their concerns are not as deep as Forest’s. Relegation is still a serious concern for Sean Dyche’s men, and their manager has some previous for concentrating on the league. It’s bound to be a decent atmosphere at the Racecourse so let’s consider the third round open, and let’s hope it starts in style.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm. Join me.