Phil Parkinson has now hit back at MK Dons manager Mike Williamson as he claimed that Wrexham receive “preferential treatment” from referees.
Phil Parkinson took his Wrexham side to MK Dons on Tuesday night looking to make it three wins on the spin in League Two.
The Reds opened the scoring through James McClean following an inch-perfect Luke Young assist before Dan Kemp equalised minutes later.
Each team then had a man sent off as Will Boyle was shown his second red card of the season, however, the biggest talking point from the match came when goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who was immense on the night, appeared to have fumbled Joe Tomlinson’s shot over the line in the second half.
This sparked wide debate on social media as Wrexham saw the humourous side and posted a video in response to Dons boss Mike Williamson, who claimed his team were denied a clear goal.
“I don’t know where to start with that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” Williamson said after the game.
“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.”
The former Newcastle United defender had a right to be angry, but to claim Wrexham always get decisions go their way is wrong on his part, and Parkinson has responded to such claims.
Phil Parkinson hits back at Mike Williamson
Parkinson isn’t buying the claim that Wrexham get preferential treatment from referees having also been on the receiving end of some poor decisions.
He said: “I really don’t think we get any preferential treatment, I don’t see that at all.
“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.”
Williamson clearly believes that Wrexham get preferential treatment from referees because of their ever-growing status as a club since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds arrived.
That isn’t the case, with Parkinson pointing out that some decisions have gone against his side this season, but you have to live with it and move on.
The Reds boss even pointed out some moments in the match against MK Dons that went against his side, claiming that Dean Lewington stamped on Andy Cannon and when Ollie Palmer was hauled down in the box.
“But equally when you review the game back, Dean Lewington stamped on Andy Cannon,” Parkinson said.
“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 penalty and the more you look at that the more you can’t see how the referee hasn’t given it.”
Wrexham now have to put aside that controversy and focus on their upcoming match against Gillingham in League Two as they aim to cement their place in the automatic promotion places.