Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson left shocked after ‘leg-breaking challenge’

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has slammed a ‘leg-breaking challenge’ from Swansea’s Ben Cabango during their derby.

Parkinson believes Cabango should have been sent off for a reckless tackle on Callum O’Hare in the 77th minute of the game.

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The two Welsh sides faced off on Saturday evening, with the clash eventually ending 0-0, but things could have been different in the final stages should a red card have been handed out.

Cabango launched into a tackle on O’Hare, missing the ball and taking out the Red Dragons’ new £6.5million signing.

The angry Wrexham bench cleared after the aggressive challenge, which left O’Hare rolling around on the floor in pain.

However, Cabango was only shown a yellow card, much to the confusion and disappointment of Parkinson.

“I know we want to protect our players but, when someone flies in at that speed, that could have been a leg-breaking challenge,” he said.

“I thought the referee handled the atmosphere well, but in the big decision he didn’t make the right call.

“I don’t think anybody in the ground or people watching back on TV can deny that.”

Parkinson: ‘That is a straight red card’

Parkinson went on to compare Cabango’s tackle to a red card handed to Wrexham’s Callum Doyle last season, questioning why such an ‘out of control’ challenge didn’t lead to a sending off too.

 “Cabango grabbed Kieffer [Moore] around the neck on the halfway line before that,” he added. “A yellow card and then the tackle.

“The same referee sent Callum Doyle off against Oxford last season for a tackle, which maybe he was slightly out of control.

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“But I’m very interested to ask the referee when he compares both those incidents how he differentiates between the two.

“Because every year, managers have to sit and listen to the referees about what they deem to be red cards, and when you’re out of control, like Ben Cabango was, and endangering a player.

“That is a straight red card.”

What next for Wrexham and Swansea?

A sending off for Cabango may have given Wrexham the chance to claim a late winner against a 10-man Swansea.

But in the end, the game ended goalless and that left Parkinson’s side sitting 11th in the Championship table.

They have drawn three of their opening five games, winning 3-0 against Millwall in midweek for their first victory.

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As for Swansea, they remained top of the second tier after an impressive start, winning three and drawing two games so far.

Vitor Matos’ side sit above Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers, having conceded only one goal in their five matches.

Swansea and Wrexham will meet again on April 7, 2027.