After MK Dons were denied a goal on Tuesday, Phil Parkinson dismissed claims that Wrexham should receive “preferential treatment” from referees.
Consequently, what happened?
Mike Williamson, the manager of MK Dons, stated that Wrexham has profited from a number of controversial decisions made during their games. Williamson was irritated after an incident in which he thought Joe Tomlinson’s attempt should have been given a goal, but Wrexham custodian Arthur Okonkwo appeared to fumble it over the line. Williamson, frustrated, said, “I don’t know where to start with that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.”
PARKINSON’S MENTION
Parkinson angrily denied such allegations, saying, “I don’t see that at all; I truly don’t think we get special treatment. Throughout the season, I’ve been watching replays of calls that went against us, like penalties or severe red cards, but you have to learn to accept it since everything evens out in due time.
THE LARGER IMAGE
Parkinson noted the Okonkwo incident’s potential for wealth, but he also highlighted a number of crucial choices he believed went against his team throughout the game. “First of all as managers, we all look at things in a one-sided view,” he stated. “It appears that the [Okonkwo] situation has turned against them. However, when examining the game again, Dean Lewington decisively defeated Andy Cannon.
“On a different occasion, which I consider a red card, Ryan Barnett crawled through on the right side and crossed the line, and the young man simply pulled Ollie Palmer down as he attempted to put the ball in the net. Therefore, in my opinion, that is a clear penalty, and the more you consider it, the more it becomes apparent that the referee did not award it.”
Next?
Managers’ divergent perspectives on certain problematic instances will ensure that the argument over refereeing decisions and apparent prejudice never ends. To pursue a second straight promotion, the Red Dragons must set the controversy aside and concentrate on their forthcoming match against Gillingham on Saturday. They are presently three points behind leaders Stockport in third place in League Two.
