Wrexham: Phil Parkinson insists Welsh club do not get 'preferential treatment' from referees

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Referee Sam Purkiss shows a second yellow card to Wrexham's Will Boyle during their draw at MK DonsImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Referee Sam Purkiss showed a second yellow card to Will Boyle against MK Dons

Manager Phil Parkinson has dismissed the suggestion that Wrexham receive "preferential treatment" from referees.

Parkinson was responding to comments made by MK Dons boss Mike Williamson after their League Two draw with Wrexham in midweek.

Williamson claimed Wrexham have benefited from a succession of contentious decisions.

But Parkinson said: "I really don't think we get any preferential treatment, I don't see that at all."

He added: "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."

MK Dons and Wrexham, who have been in the limelight since Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the club in 2021, each had a man sent off as they drew 1-1 at Stadium MK on Tuesday.

But former Newcastle United defender Williamson was unhappy that his team were denied what he called a "clear goal" when Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo appeared to fumble Joe Tomlinson's shot over the line in the second half.

"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.

"I've got a lot of respect for the manager, the club, their fantastic team, but it's really frustrating.

"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."

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 in the draw at MK Dons.

"First of all as managers, we all look at things in a one-sided view," he said.

"Obviously that [Okonkwo] incident it looks as it's gone against them.

"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 penalty and the more you look at that the more you can't see how the referee hasn't given it."

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