Wrexham v Derby: Ben Brereton Diaz cancels out Lewis O’Brien’s header in a game marred with refereeing controversy.
Derby head coach John Eustace chose not to risk punishment when questioned on whether Wrexham’s Lewis O’Brien deserved a red card for a dangerous tackle on Ebou Adams. Rams fans and the players were adamant Tom Nield should have shown a red.
Instead, O’Brien was shown a yellow card after eight minutes. The tackle sparked protests from Derby, and tensions rose further when O’Brien scored for Wrexham on the 59th minute.
Ben Brereton Diaz levelled the scoreline for Derby with a 25-yard strike, earning a point.
Eustace, wary of past fines for referee comments, focused on the draw rather than the controversial refereeing decision.
Gets worse the more you see it.
Lewis O’Brien on Adams 🤯
These refs..#dcfcfans pic.twitter.com/UulMDdwigG
— Chris Lawn (@cLawn22) September 27, 2025
Should Wrexham’s goalscorer Lewis O’Brien have been sent off for this challenge on Ebou Adams? ⤵️💬 pic.twitter.com/OQO3fHzm46
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 27, 2025
Ed Dawes (BBC Radio Derby commentator) said: “This referee is consistently inconsistent. What a poor refereeing performance this has been, four cards for Derby but just one for Wrexham. Let’s hope another controversial decision doesn’t decide this game.”
He added: “It is a fair result, and the Wrexham and Derby supporters are applauding the contest we have witnessed.
“There was controversy after eight minutes after Lewis O’Brien’s terrible challenge on Ebou Adams.
“You just wonder if the referee should have shown him a red card? Because from the replay it certainly deserved one.”
Mark Clattenburg said to Wrexham Insider on the Lewis O’Brien red card call: “Tom Neid has made a poor judgment on not sending Wrexham’s Lewis O’Brien off for the challenge on Derby’s Ebou Adams. The challenge had speed and intensity, was an over the top challenge, and was very surprised that a red card was not issued.”
Clinton Morrison said: “100% it is a sending off. Lewis O’Brien, look at this tackle on Adams. It is a disgusting tackle; the referee is right there. For me that should be a red card.”
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official, Keith Hackett, said to Football Insider: “The referee has judged this one incorrectly. It is not a yellow card. It is a challenge with excessive force that clearly endangers the safety of his opponent.
“The challenge contained a degree of malice. This is serious foul play! This offence should be sanctioned by a red card. Referees must detect these challenges and sanction accordingly.
“For serious foul play, it is a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force, or brutality, that must be sanctioned.
“Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side, or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
Mike Dean added: “I watched it first time, and I cringed when I had seen it. When you watch it, it is an awful, awful challenge. It is above his ankle; he has gone in with his studs. The referee is right on top of it, probably too close to the referee, but that has got to be picked up as a red card. It is a horrible challenge.”
Eustace said: “It’s hard for me to say anything because I’ve said something in the past and obviously got fined, so I’m thinking I don’t need to say anything else,” he said.
“It is football, isn’t it? It’s the Championship. We don’t use excuses. We could easily say it should be a sending off, but we need to defend the box better.
“It’s difficult for the referees, especially in a hostile environment like this. I’m just happier with the way that the boys fought and scrapped.
“We had two of the best chances just after half-time with Max Johnston and Carlton Morris. Overall, it’s a really good point, and we move on now for Tuesday.
Eustace added: “To get a point after going a goal down in difficult conditions in a difficult place to come was pleasing.
“First half I was really happy with our performance, apart from in the final third where we just let ourselves down a little bit – we got into some great areas.
“We just lacked that bit of quality, but I am sure that will come.
“We are disappointed with the manner we conceded, but we equalised with a fantastic goal and that is why we brought Ben to the club.
“He is top class and people forget he didn’t have a pre-season and is catching up on his fitness, but that will come.
“There are 46 games to play in the Championship and we aren’t always going to get the rub of the green, so it is important to pick up points where we can.”
Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson: “It was a strong performance, so I am disappointed that we did not win.
“We scored an outstanding goal too and, at that point, I thought we had Derby where we wanted them.
“We could have done better for their goal, but our quality of performance was really good.
“Derby are a direct team, but we stood strong against that.
“We are improving as a team and learning about the Championship from each game.
“I also thought our crowd was magnificent and they played a huge part – especially in the second half.”
Fans reacted as Brereton Diaz cancels out O’Brien’s header in a game with refereeing controversy…
@Bobsyred: Agent o’brien 😂😂👍👍
@_neil95: Look at him, he’s three yards away. It’s either incredible incompetence or corruption, can’t be anything else.
@deepfreezeskin_: well in O’Brien, just getting stuck in to his former clubs rivals, nothing wrong with that🌳🌳
@BoxingShrew: That’s a shocker
@AmbroseBarnaby: Absolutely disgusting tackle, clearest red you’ll see and we should’ve had a clear penalty, ref an utter pile of shite.
@deane_derby11: Ref is 5 yards away but because it was early, bottled the decision but what do we expect the standard of officiating across the game is dire
@capaled: We definitely got away with this 😳
@_BourneIdentity; @HACKETTREF standard of refereeing in EFL has deteriorated. This is a good example. Referee a few yards away from this tackle which is clearly excessive force and should have been a red card. @EFL will do nothing, although happy to give out retrospective 2 game bans for simulation
@badgers_back: The state of this challenge. Fucking hell.
@FunkyJluraschi: How has the referee seen this and thought that’s a yellow, the clearest red card you’ll see all season unless your playing against Hollywood FC #dcfcfans #dcfc
@dcfcpete82: The referees view of this too 🫣 absolutely inexcusable, incompetent officiating for a very easy red all things considered, then goes and scores for them, typical, Ebou could have gone too to be fair, good point in the end considering key players still in pre season mode #dcfc
@tommccoy87: Genuinely one of the worst tackles you’ll see this. Yet again the standard of refereeing in this league is the fucking pits
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