Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson criticized a penalty decision he deemed one of the worst he’s seen, which energized the opposing team. He noted that after a flat first half, Wrexham had the best chance but failed to capitalize. He also mentioned that they should have handled the second goal better and described a controversial sending-off for the opponent. Despite multiple chances, he felt they could have turned the game around. Conversely, Reading head coach Noel Hunt expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their belief, character, and quality throughout the match.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson commented:
“I felt the first half showcased two teams coming off challenging matches on Saturday – it had a bit of a subdued atmosphere, though we arguably created the best opportunity with Barney’s chance at the back post.
“In the second half, the referee awarded a penalty that I consider one of the worst calls I’ve ever witnessed. If he truly believes that’s a penalty, then goodness me.
“Naturally, that gave them a significant boost, and we should’ve defended better for their second goal – the player executed a one-two we could have handled more effectively.
“Following that, there was a sending-off for them that I thought was also questionable. Nonetheless, we created numerous opportunities – I felt that if we had scored one, we would have found our way back into the match.”
Reading head coach Noel Hunt remarked:
“I’m incredibly proud of the team. I believed we were outstanding tonight.
“It was a strong performance from the very beginning to the end.
“The belief, the character, and the quality on display – I’m genuinely delighted.”