Wrexham's Carabao Cup ambition was dashed when manager Phil Parkinson called on his side to "take the criticism on the chin" after falling 2-1 at home to Cardiff City.

Wrexham Misses Opportunity to Make Carabao Cup History

Wrexham’s Carabao Cup Dreams Shattered as Cardiff Ends Their Historic Wrexham’s Carabao Cup Dreams Shattered as Cardiff Ends Their Historic
Katharine Lotze/Getty Images

ESPN reported that Wrexham went into Tuesday's game with a golden chance to make it into the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. The club saw its encounter against local Welsh rivals Cardiff as a "statement" game. For a moment, this is a perfect opportunity to win the QF since 1978.

However, a heavily rotated lineup failed to deliver. League One contenders Cardiff capitalized on Wrexham's sluggish first-half display, securing a deserved victory in their first meeting with Wrexham in over two decades.

Cardiff Earns Bragging Rights in Welsh Derby

Kieffer Moore was substituted in to level the scores after Wrexham had taken a temporary lead through Yousef Salech. Will Fish's volley in the second half sealed Cardiff's passage through and quieted the home fans, who showed their frustration with boos at halftime and full-time.

For Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, the team was behind the pace in the first half. He admitted that they made things too easy for the raging Cardiff squad since they failed to shut them down. Although the second-half changes took a turnaround, they weren't able to sustain the momentum when the final third arrived.

Parkinson Owns Up to Wrexham's Cup Exit

Parkinson acknowledged that his selection decisions would be scrutinized but maintained they were necessary given the club's busy schedule.

"We've had lots of praise over the years, and we'll take the criticism, myself included, for going out the cup tonight. We made a lot of changes and I'm sure everybody will be analysing that, like myself, but I did it for the reasons I thought were the right ones with the schedule we've got coming up."

To add to Wrexham's misery, defender Lewis Brunt will be on the sidelines for 12 weeks after undergoing surgery. The side now looks forward to their next Championship encounter against league leaders Coventry City.

Still, this approach was better than Ruben Amorim's, when he criticized Manchester United players for their poor attitude after a Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby in August.

Cardiff Delight at Cup Progress and Team Character

At the same time, Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy praised his team's composure and unity. The 47-year-old Irish head coach acknowledged the difficulty that his team experienced. However, he was "incredibly proud" that they displayed their character and level of skill throughout.

The win sends Cardiff into the Carabao Cup quarterfinals for the first time since their 2011–12 run to the final. Barry-Murphy added that this was an exciting experience for the club. He also complimented the away supporters, wishing for a home draw in the next game.

Wrexham will face Coventry City on Friday at 4 PM ET, according to CBS Sports.