PHIL PARKINSON declared himself pleased with a point against former club Bradford City but the Wrexham manager felt his side were denied a “stonewall” penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.Although Bradford piled the pressure on in the second period, Paul Mullin gave Wrexham a 68th minute lead when he headed home Ryan Barnett’s cross but substitute Adam Wilson scored a late equaliser to deny Parkinson a winning return to the West Yorkshire club where he enjoyed a successful five-year stint in the hotseat.
Parkinson was disappointed Mullin was not awarded a first half penalty by referee Ross Joyce when he brought down by Sam Stubbs in the area.
“We knew they would look to press us and play with energy,” said the Reds’ boss.
“At times we put the ball at risk a little bit too much in the first period but we had some great chances.
“Mullin had a great chance, then he had the penalty appeal which when you look at it, how the referee hasn’t given that is just incredible.
“The lad’s slid in, caught him and pulled him down, it is an absolute stonewall penalty. Obviously I have had the benefit of watching it back.
“The Steven Fletcher one is a 50-50 call, the lad has pushed him just as he was going to shoot, but the Mullin one is a 100 per cent penalty.
“I have to say with Mulls, you are crying out for a bit more protection in general play for him from the referees but it was a physical game and I suppose that’s the way we like it.
“But I was disappointed the referee didn’t give us that penalty because when he looks back at it, he will see that it was a clear penalty.”
Nearly 22,000 fans packed into Valley Parade, including 2,700 travelling supporters who made the trip up the M62, and saw Bradford dominate the second half.
Wrexham took the lead against the run of play through Mullin’s third goal of the campaign and although the Bantams levelled after 85 minutes, Parkinson was delighted with his side’s defending when the home side put the pressure on.
“It was a hard-earned point,” said Parkinson.
“I knew coming here today with a full-house that it was going to be a feisty encounter.
“It was fast and furious at times and of course, when you go a goal ahead you want to take the three points but we had to withstand pressure in the second period.
“I thought the way we defended our box was outstanding; some of the defending was top class.
“We didn’t get hold of the ball as much as I wouldn’t have liked in the second half but when you don’t do that, you have got to be physical in your box and we were terrific at times.
“I was obviously disappointed to concede but this is a difficult place to come, especially with the atmosphere today, and it is another hard-earned point for us.”
