MK Dons manager rages after being denied ‘clear goal’ against Wrexham

MK Dons were denied a “clear goal” in their 1-1 draw against fellow League Two promotion contenders Wrexham, according to head coach Mike Williamson.

The most controversial moment of a fiery contest came after an hour when Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo appeared to fumble Joe Tomlinson’s shot over the line, with Dons captain Dean Lewington being sent off for his protests.

Williamson said: “I don’t know where to start with that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.

“The fact that he was so close to the post indicated to everybody in the stadium that it’s a clear goal.

“The reaction of their team was to turn around, they all thought it was (a goal) and I think everybody did apart from the officials.

“I’m taken aback, and I’m really gutted for the boys because they did exactly what we asked them to do, they carried out everything very well and they deserved that.”

On Lewington’s red card, he added: “He had the same reaction as all of us, I think.

“I was so taken aback I probably could have said many things to the officials, which you’ve got to bite your tongue about, but we’ve got to dust ourselves off, pick the bones out and take a lot of positives.”

#MKDons thought this crossed the line v #WxmAFC

Ref rules no goal pic.twitter.com/q8YtIyG3cQ

— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) February 20, 2024

Wrexham, who are now one point clear of fourth-placed Crewe, went ahead after 22 minutes when Luke Young’s corner was headed in at the near post by James McClean.

It took just four minutes for MK Dons to equalise when Jack Payne played the ball through for Dan Kemp, who finished emphatically past Okonkwo.

The Arsenal loanee had pulled off a stunning save from Tomlinson’s 30-yard piledriver before the incident that led to Lewington’s red, while Will Boyle’s second yellow ensured both sides finished with 10 men.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said on the ‘ghost goal’: “I can’t see from where I was and it was not conclusive whether it’s crossed the line, or not.

“If the referee or the linesman is not sure, then they can’t give it. It was some game of football. I thought it was two good sides again.

“I was pleased with the early exchanges. We knew how they play, putting the ball at risk in their own third.

“Our pressing game was good, we got the goal, we looked really confident that we could go and score again but their goal, like goals do, gave them a lift, then Arthur’s had to make some good saves.

“In the second half we played really well. Then 11 v 10, we looked like we were going to score.

“Boyley’s sending-off has evened the game up numerically, which is a shame. It could have then gone either way.”