VAR brings cruel dose of reality to Wrexham

VAR produced what the article calls a "cruel dose of reality" for Wrexham in their FA Cup tie with Chelsea at the Cae Ras, the oldest international ground in world football.

“There is an irony that the club that welcomed the cameras to Wrexham was denied by them”

BBC

The new technology turned George Dobson's yellow card into a red, leaving the Championship hosts with 10 men.

BBC

VAR later ruled out a Wrexham equaliser when Lewis Brunt was deemed inches offside as he connected with Kieffer Moore's header on the line.

Sam Smith had given Wrexham the lead.

The match was watched by the club's film star owners as VAR made its debut at the 162-year-old ground.

Manager Phil Parkinson criticised the Dobson decision as against them and said the referee should back his instant judgement, arguing the on-field official was in a great position to see the incident.

He described it as his first taste of VAR.

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Sam Smith said, "We had the highs and lows in such a short space of time and fell the wrong side of it [VAR]."

Parkinson accepted the Brunt offside call and suggested Moore's header would have hit the post.

Pundit Micah Richards told Match of the Day, "you don't want to see goals being ruled out like that, we are talking inches."

Parkinson insisted the result would not affect Wrexham's bid for a place in the Premier League and emphasised he wants his team and their performance to reflect the town.

The club and directors said the game was a test of readiness for a potential step up.

“There is an irony that the club that welcomed the cameras to Wrexham was denied by them”

BBC

Chief executive Michael Williamson said this tie and the third-round win over Nottingham Forest were tests of Wrexham's readiness in terms of the team and infrastructure.

Director Humphrey Ker said, "It has been an extraordinary journey."

Defender Zak Vyner spoke of "11 cup games remaining as the Championship season reaches its climax."

Parkinson warned of "a huge gulf between spending power in the Premier League to the Championship" and that Wrexham might struggle financially despite the global attention.

The match was televised in 75 countries and media attendance trebled.

After competing strongly on the night, the club now turn their focus to a crucial game against fifth-placed Hull City and a Welsh derby with Swansea City, and will be relieved there will be no VAR for those matches.