Premier League star Harry Wilson sides with Wrexham on the debatable red card incident involving George Dobson in the FA Cup tie against Chelsea.
It’s been nearly a week since Wrexham’s FA Cup exit, yet the tie remains on the lips of players and pundits alike. While much of that attention stems from Wrexham’s fairytale rise, the dramatic nature of the knockout itself has kept the conversation going.
That’s because Wrexham Vs Chelsea stood as a classic, a game that brought Wrexham inches from a historic Cupset. The drama has since sparked debate over potential tweaks, while pundits and players continue to dissect key moments from the clash.
Earlier, Micah Richards backed Wrexham on the disallowed 3-3 equaliser. Now, fans are tuning in to Premier League star Harry Wilson for his take on Dobson’s red card incident.
On the Peter Crouch Podcast, Wilson talked of VAR’s intervention to upgrade the initial yellow to a straight red, saying: “I think the tackle, the red card, a proper tackle – when you slow it down and freeze frame it, it probably is a red, but it didn’t happen like that.”
Wilson made his verdict clear by adding, “I just think if the yellow card stays in that game, I don’t think anyone probably questions it the day after, and I just find that with VAR.”
George Dobson’s red card flipped the game on its head
The Wrexham vs Chelsea tie was far more competitive than anticipated. Smith fired the Reds ahead early, and after Chelsea equalised, Doyle restored the lead in the second half. For much of the game, it was the Premier League side doing the chasing.
Though Acheampong’s late equaliser piled pressure on Wrexham, the Reds threw their bodies on the line, with George Dobson leading the charge in the defensive midfield role.
However, Dobson’s send-off during stoppage time completely killed Wrexham’s momentum. While the red card wasn’t a wrong decision, the fact that Harry Wilson sounded much like Phil Parkinson in his assessment of the call demands notice.
Not only did the send-off give Chelsea a one-man advantage, but it also sidelined Wrexham’s defensive pivot from the clash.
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George Dobson had been rock solid for Wrexham up to that point. Whether making crucial tackles, intercepting passes, or putting his body on the line, he did the dirty work of breaking up Chelsea’s attacks time and again.
The moment VAR confirmed the red card, it was more or less over for Wrexham. With Chelsea introducing fresh legs like Cucurella and Joao Pedro late on, the Blues extinguished any hopes a tired Wrexham side had left.
While Wrexham did admirably well even in Dobson’s absence, they couldn’t respond to extra-time goals from Chelsea with their injury-hit squad. The chain of events starting from Dobson’s red card denied Wrexham a deserved penalty shootout against Chelsea.
Harry Wilson’s thoughts on George Dobson’s red card
Premier League star Harry Wilson has made a spot-on observation about Dobson’s red card. If referee Peter Bankes had simply stuck with his initial decision to book Dobson and played on, no one would have complained.
Agreed, Dobson’s lunge at Garnacho looks like a red in slow motion. But given his intention was just to break up Chelsea’s counterattack, a yellow card might have been sufficient punishment.
The extra-time rule already favours big sides with extensive squad depth. In a game as tight as the Chelsea tie, underdogs like Wrexham need luck to go their way, but Dobson’s red card deprived them of that chance.
Still, the FA Cup elimination is in the past, and Wrexham fans are eager to move on from it. But the way Harry Wilson sided with them should not go unnoticed by any hardcore Wrexham fan.
Wilson’s comment on the George Dobson incident shows he has a soft spot for Wrexham. This is something special for the player who hasn’t represented Wrexham at any point in his career.
Yes, Harry Wilson is a local lad. Yet considering the way he checked out on Wrexham despite having an FA Cup tie against Southampton the next day shows how much he wants the Reds to do well.
While it’s a far-fetched thought for now, Wilson’s comments could be interpreted as a soft yes should Wrexham ever come calling. Especially, how the club were reportedly plotting an ambitious move for him if they reached the Premier League.
Though Wrexham’s ongoing injury crisis might delay this link-up, the prospect of building a team around local lad Harry Wilson is an exciting one for fans dreaming of the Premier League.
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