PHIL PARKINSON didn't get the home tie he wanted in the FA Cup fourth round but he is looking forward to his Wrexham side testing themselves against Blackburn Rovers in front of a decent sized away following at Ewood Park.

The Reds' reward for beating rivals Shrewsbury Town 1-0 in Sunday's cross-border derby at The Croud Meadow is a trip to Rovers, who currently sit 17th in the Championship, on the weekend of Saturday January 27.

Although the number of tickets given to away teams varies, Blackburn handed Leeds United a massive 7,337 away allocation for last month's league game and Parkinson is relishing having a large turnout of Wrexham supporters at the cup clash when the Reds will aim to cause an upset and secure a place in round five for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.

"I have seen some of the away followings there this year and Blackburn always give the away team a great allocation of tickets," said Parkinson, who was born in Chorley, a town not far away from Blackburn. 

"It gives us an opportunity to take a large travelling army with us which always gives a special FA Cup feel to it.

"There is that bonus and it is a test for us against a Championship team.

"Of course we would have loved a home draw but we didn't get it and when the game comes, we will be prepared for it.

"To be in the fourth round of the FA Cup is exciting and when we get to that game we will have had a good look at Blackburn.

"We will know everything about them and go there to give ourselves the best chance to keep our cup run going."

Centre-back Tom O'Connor scored the only goal against League One outfit Shrewsbury as Wrexham booked their place in this stage of competition for a second season in a row.

Blackburn won 5-2 at home to Cambridge United in their third round tie and it will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since the 1981-82 campaign in the old second division.

"Blackburn are a famous club, one of the founder members of the Football League, and we haven't played them competitively for over 40 years," added Parkinson, whose side are currently third in League Two and targeting a second successive promotion.

"That's great for the club and our supporters, to go to a ground many of them will never have visited."