'You've got to respect his honesty' - Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson reveals referee apology after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side held to costly draw

The incident in question occurred when Cambridge forward Ryan Loft went to the ground inside the area following a challenge from Wrexham defender Lewis Brunt. Without hesitation, Parsons pointed to the spot, a decision that raised eyebrows. Josh Stokes stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty to put the hosts in front.

Speaking after the game, Parkinson did not mince his words regarding the decision. He described the penalty as “one of the worst” he had ever witnessed. However, the Wrexham boss later received communication from English Football League referees’ chief Mike Jones, who relayed that the referee had acknowledged his error after reviewing the footage.

"The referee has accepted there was no contact and has apologised," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales. "You've got to respect his honesty for that. He can't go back and change his decision but at least he's reflected, looked at it from the angles I was able to do straight after the game. We move on. Sometimes certain situations are out of our control but I was pleased with the way we responded to that."

Although the late penalty decision denied them all three points, Wrexham still managed to take something from the game thanks to Sam Smith’s goal. The result kept the Red Dragons in second place in League One, preserving a three-point cushion over third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who have a match in hand.

With just six matches remaining in the campaign, Wrexham’s hopes of securing back-to-back promotions remain very much alive. Birmingham City currently lead the league, but Parkinson’s men are in a prime position to claim the second automatic spot. Next up for the Red Dragons is a home fixture against Burton Albion, a side fighting to avoid relegation.