UEFA Cup: Is Wrexham and Cardiff a derby or a rivalry?

Wayne Phillips and Nathan Blake faced each other in matches between Wrexham and Cardiff.

Former Wrexham midfielder Wayne Phillips was part of the Wrexham side that beat Cardiff City in the 1995 Welsh Cup Final.

“Cardiff is a derby because of the rivalry between two clubs, and it always will be,” he said.

“So far Wrexham have been behind Cardiff for the last 20 years and Cardiff have played at the top of the league.

“They will both discuss the issue but with everything that is happening, Wrexham is the biggest club.

“We haven’t played each other much in the last 15 or 20 years, and this match is special because there is a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.”

Former Wales international Nathan Blake was a member of the Cardiff side that beat Wrexham to the Division Three title in 1994, scoring in the win at the Racecourse Ground.

“If we look at the 1990s, it was a derby,” Blake said.

“Joey Jones is going to finish off all the Wrexham boys and both teams traveled to each other in very good numbers and I think that says it all.

“There are four clubs in the Football League in Wales, all competing for first place.”