Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson fumes at the referee over a ‘nothing’ penalty handed to Bradford City in the Carabao Cup clash on Tuesday.
The Bantams reached the third round of the EFL Cup, where they will take on Championship strugglers Middlesbrough for a place in the Fourth Round.
Tyler Smith’s spot-kick on the third minute had put Bradford ahead after Aaron Hayden brought down Jamie Walker, with Will Boyle putting Wrexham level with a header in the second half.
But the home fans were left disappointed after Luke Young and James Jones missed their penalties in the shootout to send Bradford through.
Goalkeeper Harry Lewis emerged as the hero for the Bantams, keeping out Jones’ effort after Wrexham’s Mark Howard had done the same to deny Bradford substitute Dan Oyegoke.
How on earth is this a penalty?!
Crazy decision. pic.twitter.com/ZtkzRDUs6D
— RobRyanRed – Wrexham AFC Podcast (@RobRyanRed) August 29, 2023
Parkinson spoke to the media after the loss and stated his fury with the decision in the third minute that he thought was never a penalty.
“We had a League Managers’ meeting, which (Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief executive) Howard Webb spoke well at.
“He talked about a higher tolerance level for nudges and pushes and things like that.
“On Saturday (at Barrow), Elliot Lee is running through and gets pushed to the floor – which I thought was a free-kick. But the referee said to me at the end, ‘Phil, you were at the meeting about the high tolerance level’. I said, ‘Ok’.
“But then, for an absolutely nothing incident, the ref has given a penalty. That’s the first point.
“The second point is he has four players in between him and the incident.
“The ref has told me he gave it. But there is absolutely no way he can see it, so he has clearly guessed.
“The third point is the linesman has the best view of all.
“I feel a little bit aggrieved at how that decision has come about. But we have to take it on the chin and the lads responded really well.
“It was a very good performance from us after the start,” he added. “I thought we played some really good football and certainly in the second half, we had them pinned in for long periods.
“In terms of our performance and the intensity and the quality of our play, I thought it was good.
“I’m disappointed not to win on penalties but I felt the performance from us over 90 minutes warranted us to go through.”
To those replying that it’s nailed on… this front on view via @Jebbo37 makes the decision even worse 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/jG7chcnT9d pic.twitter.com/cSHaMG4CD9
— RobRyanRed – Wrexham AFC Podcast (@RobRyanRed) August 30, 2023
Bradford boss Mark Hughes said: “The end result was deserved, in my view.
“It was a strong, mature performance from everyone. We defended crosses diligently and should be proud of our conduct here; it is not an easy place to come.
“We were professional from the penalty spot, and I am proud of that. You have to regroup, refocus and go again.
“We are pleased with the outcome in the shoot-out, and to do it twice, shows skill and mentality.
“It is that old cliche when it comes to a penalty shoot-out, and how it is often a lottery, but I think the right result was born out of it.
“We had a lot of chances to win it within the 90 minutes, really.
“Brad (Halliday) and Manny (Osadebe) had clear-cut chances that, if they hit the target, have a high chance of going in.
“In terms of the chances we created and the amount of them, they were far above Wrexham’s.
“Their chances were, for the most part, speculative and did not really intimidate us.
“In fairness, we should have had it finished in the 90, but it does become easier for the opposition to hang on for penalties. I am pleased with our showing, and we know what we need to do, to be even more clinical.
“We won again this round, and now have another opportunity to get a big tie in the third round,” he added.
“I am super proud of the performance and we will be able to build on areas of our last few matches, to give our third round opponents a good go.
“It will be nice to get further in this competition, and see where our quality matches up compared to other sides in the pyramid.
“The bigger tie we get, the more it helps the club’s finances, so progressing helps the club, as a whole.
“What a night it would be to bring one of the big Premier League sides to Valley Parade under the lights.”
WREXHAM: Mark Howard, Ben Tower, Aaron Hayden (Eoghan O’Connell 61′), Luke Young (C), Sam Dalby (Billy Waters 87′), Jacob Mendy (James McClean 61′), Andy Cannon (Elliot Lee 61′), Will Boyle, Jake Bickerstaff (Ollie Palmer 70′), Ryan Barnett, James Jones. Subs not used: Luke McNicholas, Ollie Palmer, Liam McAlinden, Anthony Forde, Tom O’Connor.
GOALS: Boyle (73’).
PENALTIES: Young (missed), Lee (scored), Palmer (scored), McClean (scored), Jones (saved).
CITY: Harry Lewis, Brad Halliday, Liam Ridehalgh, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C), Jamie Walker (Adam Wilson 83′), Emmanuel Osadebe (Daniel Oyegoke 73′), Alex Pattison (booked 45 +1’, Bobby Pointon 46′), Tyler Smith (Matt Derbyshire 73′), Sam Stubbs, Ciarán Kelly. Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Luke Hendrie, Timi Odusina, Dylan Youmbi, Lewis Richards.
GOALS: Smith (3’ pen).
PENALTIES: Derbyshire (scored), Smallwood (scored), Wilson (scored), Halliday (scored), Oyegoke (saved).
REFEREE: Ben Speedie
Fans reacted as Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson fumes at the referee over a ‘nothing’ penalty handed to Bradford…
@msth_19: I could see it 40 yards away in mold road. Linesman this side had exact same view and said nothing.
@Gazpin_69kg: Notice no flag from the lino!
@skintswindon: Doesn’t feel nice when it’s on the other foot does it
@TomDearlove1: Shocking decision. Never a penalty
@1987tilpresent: Parkys reaction was great. Being at a meeting and being told that there’s a bigger tolerance for shoving and pushes…….then this
@Luke_Clayton1: Can only imagine the “enthusiasm” coming from parky after seeing that decision
@1paulburton: Stonewall penalty all day. Can’t just barge a player with no attempt to play the ball. #bcafc
@JackFawcett776: Right decision nailed on pen bout time some refs went against u
@jwcraig: I was running this back and forth like the Zapruder film. Hayden clearly hits the ball and sends it in a new direction before he impacts the opposing player. The ref is calling the foul he could only see with x-ray vision. Now you’ve got me wound up all over again!
@mallers01: Feel worse watching this. Ref has had an absolute nightmare
@ChairmanBryn: Ref shouldn’t be in charge of a game of tiddlywinks nevermind football 🤬
@McCale: Awful decision – trouble is, I’d rather accept a ref mistake than VAR that would still give it as a pen. Hate VAR in the game
@beardywxm: Don’t know how the linesman has let him give that he has the best view in the stadium. Shocking.
@WrexhamSunny: If I didn’t hate the ref already. The worst ref I’ve ever seen in football. Deserves to be reffing Sunday League
@RichWXM: Don’t get me wrong, being a ref is a tough job but giving this as a penalty is just pure incompetence. It’s never been a penalty
@DewiHughes_: Similar decisions will happen this weekend, and the next and so on and so on. Will anything get done? Absolutely not
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