Hollywood fairytale script not part of Tottenham FA Cup story

After Sheffield United ended the dreams of National League side Wrexham AFC in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday, the Hollywood storyline disappeared for Tottenham.

Whether or not a movie star owned Wrexham, the idea of a Premier League side facing a team from the fifth division National League in the fifth round of the FA Cup is how fairytales and magic happen. And as it so happens, Wrexham is owned by a Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Reynolds and his pal Rob Mcelhenney. However, the fantasy of playing a fifth-division foe with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line is off the table and likely for the better for Tottenham Hotspur.

Sheffield United ends the dreams for Wrexham

It was already excruciating for Wrexham to be playing the replay in Sheffield. The Red Dragons had already conceded an injury-time goal to be forced into a replay, and again fate was not on their side.

Wrexham’s main man and the leading scorer thus far in this edition of the FA Cup with eight goals is Paul Mullin. However, after converting one penalty in the match, he had a second saved, missing the chance to put the Red Dragons up 2-1. Instead, injury time was again the difference, with Sheffield United scoring twice to end the upstart club’s dreams.

Tottenham has a more straightforward task with Sheffield United

While the level difference between Tottenham and Wrexham would have been enough to make for many a storyline – as would the owners – it was not to be and likely for the better for Spurs. Being as heavily favored as they would have been against Wrexham likely would have worked to our disadvantage, so facing a more familiar Championship foe is the better path.

The game will be the 50th all-time between Tottenham and Sheffield United, with Spurs winning the majority, including the two most recent when United was in the Premier League in 2020/21. Thus while Tottenham is missing out on some Hollywood marketing capital, staying focused on the games and trying to win the FA Cup is much more important, making Sheffield United the best opposition given the situation.