'Raging' Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson accuses referee of 'trying to make a name for himself' in astonishing rant after Cambridge draw damages Red Dragons' promotion hopes

Wrexham conceded a controversial penalty in their 2-2 draw at Cambridge on Tuesday, with referee Parsons deeming the home team's Ryan Loft was brought down in the penalty area by Lewis Brunt. After the game, Red Dragons manager Parkinson admitted he was "raging" at the official's performance and that he "couldn’t wait to give those things tonight".

Parkinson told talkSPORT: “The referee’s performance tonight? To say I’m raging is one of the biggest understatements in my 1,000 games. That penalty decision is one of the worst penalty decisions that I’ve seen and to disallow the goal at the end is completely bizarre. You’ve got to be absolutely sure that that ball has gone out of play and there’s no way – no way – that he can be sure that ball’s gone out of play. For the penalty decision, it’s just incredible. The referee couldn’t wait to give those things tonight. I just asked him if he’s a professional referee because as they get research packs coming into the games – did he watch Cambridge on Saturday throwing themselves to the floor to buy free-kicks in those situations because he clearly didn’t. There’s absolutely no contact and to give a penalty against us in that situation is tough to take but I’m very proud of the way the lads responded.”

He added: "Yes, we're in a fantastic position, but it doesn't stop my anger at the referee tonight. Like I said, is it a coincidence that the Reading penalty gets given against us? And then tonight, anybody will watch that penalty tonight and say, wow, that is unlucky. It's absolutely incredible. I think there was a comment somewhere that we were fortunate to get the penalty at the weekend. But like I keep saying, we've had three, Wycombe have had nine, Birmingham have had 11. I can do a montage of all the decisions we haven't had and had against us, and the refs, I feel, sometimes come at these games wanting to make a name for themselves."

Despite failing to beat relegation-threatened Cambridge, Wrexham received something of a reprieve as promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers were held to a draw as well. The Welsh outfit hold a three-point lead over third-placed Wycombe but their rivals have a game in hand and a slightly better goal difference. A third-straight promotion is still very much on for Parkinson's men.

Wrexham are back on home turf, where they are generally much stronger, when they take on lowly Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon.