By David Williams
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has admitted his team have to “take it on the chin” after they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.
Harrogate pulled off the biggest upset of the opening round on Sunday as the Sky Bet League Two side beat League One high-flyers Wrexham 1-0 to reach the second round.
️ “It looked a very very marginal call to me”
“Credit to Harrogate for their performance”
❌ Phil Parkinson spoke after Wrexham’s exit from the #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Wumhgb1o36
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 3, 2024
It’s an embarrassing defeat for Wrexham as they lost to a League Two club currently 38 places beneath them in a repeat of their defeat to Harrogate in the same competition only three years ago.
“We’ve not had too many days like this since I’ve been at the club,” Parkinson said.
“We were expected to win and didn’t produce. So, this is a day when we have to take the defeat firmly on the chin and dust ourselves down, to come back ready against Mansfield.
Jack Muldoon scored the only goal of the game with a glancing header midway through the first half and League One high-fliers Wrexham struggled to create clear-cut chances to equalise.
Harrogate will take on seventh-tier Gainsborough Trinty in the next round, whilst Wrexham now have to concentrate on trying to earn promotion.
They are currently third in the table, on point behind the top two – Birmingham Cioty and Wycombe – but have played a game more.
“We dominated the first early exchanges,” added Parkinsonm.
“I thought our approach play really was good, but lacked conviction in our crossing and our finishing to get that goal.
“Then, we’ve conceded a goal from a set play, which gave a team who are good at hanging in there – that’s what they do – they did it our place last year; they’re a backs-to-the-wall type team, and we gave them something to hang on to.
“Second half, we’ve pinned them in for practically the whole of the 45 minutes, got cross after cross in, got in positions, but couldn’t find that moment of quality.
“If we’re honest the conviction in around the box wasn’t where it needs to be.”
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