Rooney praise an 'incredible tribute' for Wrexham

Phil Parkinson says Wayne Rooney's praise of Wrexham following their performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round is an "incredible tribute for everyone connected with the club".

Liam Rosenior's Premier League side needed extra-time to overcome the Red Dragons 4-2 with the hosts seeing George Dobson sent off in the final stages of regular time at Stok Cae Ras.

England icon Rooney formed part of the BBC's punditry team for the contest in north Wales and was later full of praise for the Championship side.

"I think it's the most I've enjoyed a game of football since I stopped playing," he told The Wayne Rooney Show.

"I thought it was a really good game. Wrexham were excellent."

The 40-year-old added: "My favourite game since I stopped playing was Barcelona v Inter Milan in the [Champions League] semi-finals last year, but I think one has taken over. I really enjoyed it."

Parkinson felt his side's showing against Club World Cup champions Chelsea helped to further demonstrate Wrexham's best qualities.

"It's (Rooney's comments) an incredible tribute for everyone connected with the club," Parkinson said.

"It's great for us as a club that the wider audience saw what the team's all about.

"It really was an electric atmosphere from minute one."

With their FA Cup run now over, Wrexham's focus switches immediately back to their push for what would be a fourth successive promotion.

Wrexham - currently sixth - are three points clear of seventh-place Derby County with 11 matches still to play this season.

They go into back-to-back home league games against Hull City (Tuesday, 19:45 GMT) and Swansea City (Friday, 20:00 GMT) this week having won each of their past three Championship fixtures.

And following their headline-grabbing fixture with Chelsea, Wrexham manager Parkinson says it is now "game on" as his side pursue a spot in the play-offs.

"It (Chelsea fixture) was a special night and one we will remember," Parkinson said.

"It could have been so much more memorable, but like I said to the lads, it's now game on in the league, starting with Hull City tomorrow."