PARKINSON’S PENALTY FURY AS DRAGONS ARE BLUNTED

By Tony Flint

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

WREXHAM 0

FULL STRETCH: Wigan’s Baba Adeeko, left, and Wrexham’s Ollie Rathbone get stuck in

PICTURES: Alamy

PHIL Parkinson insisted that promotion-chasing Wrexham were denied a “very, very clear penalty” that might have given them a somewhat underserved three points.

Wrexham failed to muster a shot worthy of the name as Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle registered a 16th clean sheet of the campaign.

At other end, Wigan might have pinched a first win under new head coach Ryan Lowe, but Maleace Asamoah was unable to make the most of two decent chances.

But Wrexham boss Parkinson’s post-match thoughts were dominated by an incident at the beginning of the second half, when Ryan Longman’s cross appeared to hit a hand of Wigan defender Luke Robinson, only for the referee to wave play on.

“I thought we started reasonably well, we were in control of the game, but we had too many sloppy moments in that first,” said Parkinson.

“I think Wigan have probably underachieved with the players they’ve got, because they’ve got good players here.

“But we’ve had a moment where the referee will look at the penalty decision and I’m sure he’ll realise it was pretty harsh not to give that.

BIG SHOUT: Sam Smith, fourth from left, leads the Wrexham penalty appeal for handball

“The lad has got his arm in an unnatural position. It looks to me a very, very clear then worked a great opening penalty, and I’m surprised he to play in Owen Dale, but the hasn’t given it, but that’s the on-loan Oxford United man way it goes.” could again only fire straight Asamoah had the only real at Okonkwo. effort on goal in a very uneventful first half, but could McClean was given a very Former Wigan man James only fire past a post. warm reception by all four After Wrexham’s shout for ends of the ground on being a penalty five minutes after substituted, but Wrexham continued to toil. the restart, it was Wigan who looked the most likely to break For Lowe, it was a third draw the deadlock. Asamoah in a week after good points at Leyton Orient and Exeter City, target 0 target 4 showed blistering pace on the right wing to rip through the Wrexham defence.

However, with Dale Taylor and Jensen Weir busting a gut to get up in support, he fired straight at Arthur Okonkwo.

Taylor, Asamoah and Weir as the Latics inch their way to safety.

“It was a good point, although I’m disappointed we weren’t able to take all three,” he said. “We had some good oppor-ortunities to do that, some good chances, but it’s the same old story. And if you can’t win a game, then don’t lose it, and I thought we were very solid and resolute in possession. It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying, and overall we’re pleased with the point.

“Wrexham didn’t have a shot on our goal, and that epitomised the effort of the group.”

Parkinson felt that Wrexham gave the ball away too cheaply, or tried to play it forward when it wasn’t on to play it forward.

He added: “I thought in the second half we started really well, we pinned them in for 15 minutes, but they always carry a threat on the break.”

WIGAN: Tickle 6, Carragher 6, Kerr 7, Aimson 7, Robinson 7, Adeeko 6, Dale 6, Mellish 7, Weir 6 (McHugh 78, 6), Asamoah 6, Taylor 6. Subs not used: Watson, Sibbick, Smith, Hungbo, McManaman, Sze. WREXHAM: Okonkwo 7, Cleworth 7, O’Connell 9, Brunt 7, Longman 6, Dobson 6 (Lee 67, 6), James 6, Rathbone 7, McClean 6 (Barnett 67, 6), Rodriguez 6 (Fletcher 67, 6), Smith 6 (Marriott 82, 6). Subs not used: Burton, Scarr, O’Connor.