Breaking news as Wrexham AFC SACKED Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson responds to controversial Wrexham AFC claim
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has responded to claims that his side have benefited from a succession of contentious decisions in recent weeks.
The comments were made following their 1-1 draw with MK Dons in League Two, with the game overshadowed by Joe Tomlinson’s second-half strike appearing to go over the line after being spilled by keeper Arthur Okonkwo, yet not being given as a goal.
With emotions running high following the encounter between two sides in the League Two play-off positions, Dons boss Mike Williamson was unhappy with the decision against his side in his post-match press conference.
Speaking to the MKCitizen, the former Newcastle United defender was in disbelief that referee Sam Purkiss was unable to give the goal, with protests from Dean Lewington resulting in the captain seeing red on his 900th appearance for the club, while also referring to decisions against other sides in the play-off picture.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. Everybody in the stadium knew it was a clear goal. The reaction of their players was to just turn around, they all thought it was a goal. Everyone did apart from the officials.”
He added: “I’m going to speak to him. If I don’t speak to the referee now, nothing will come of it. I want to hear him out and to see what will happen moving forwards.
“I think the rules are that I’m not allowed to show him footage, but as men, you need to look at it and hold your hands up. We as players and managers have to. I’d like to have an interaction with him once he has seen it.
“There have been legitimate goals (ruled out) for Mansfield and Notts County (against Wrexham), so I don’t know if it’s the momentum the club bring, if it’s unconsciously playing on their (match officials’) minds.”
A win for Williamson’s side would have moved them to within a point of Wrexham, but now remain four points behind and outside of the automatic promotion places.
It could be a result that may become significant at the end of the season, with Crewe Alexandra also fighting for the automatic promotion places along with Wrexham, Stockport County and Mansfield – seven points separating the top five in the division.
The decision not to award Wilkinson’s goal was the second involvement in as many weeks that Wrexham had benefitted from a decision that affected the outcome of a result.
Just a week prior, their win over National League rivals from last season, Notts County, was once again overshadowed by a decision against the Magpies when David McGoldrick saw his second-half effort ruled out for handball, with many fans disagreeing with the decision.
Despite the recent controversy surrounding the decisions, manager Parkinson was quick to dismiss the claims that his side were being favoured by league officials, and referred back to a number of decisions earlier in the season that had gone against the Red Dragons.
“I really don’t think we get any preferential treatment, I don’t see that at all,” Parkinson told BBC Wales Sport.
“I’ve been constantly this season going through clips of decisions we could have got, penalties or red cards which were harsh against us, but over the course of the season you’ve got to accept it, and it balances itself out.”
Parkinson, whose side continue their promotion push at Gillingham on Saturday, acknowledged that Wrexham may have been fortunate in the Okonkwo incident, but insisted there were also key decisions which went against his team.
First of all as managers, we all look at things in a one-sided view. Obviously that (Okonkwo) incident looks like it’s gone against them,” he said.
“But equally, when you review the game back, Dean Lewington stamped on Andy Cannon. On another day that for me is a red card, and also (there was) the one where Ryan Barnett wriggled through on the right-hand side and crossed it and the lad just hauled Ollie Palmer down when he was going to put the ball in the back of the net.
“So, for me, that’s a definite penal
