PHIL PARKINSON and Ben Tozer hit back at Billy Sharp after the Sheffield United striker accused Wrexham of being disrespectful ahead of their FA Cup fourth-round replay.
Championship high-fliers United won 3-1 at Bramall Lane to progress to a fifth round home tie against Tottenham United.
Although the Blades took a 50th lead, Paul Mullin converted a penalty to make it 1-1 and the Reds' striker saw another spot-kick saved by Adam Davies.
Two injury-time goals took United through but Sharp, speaking on television after the game, said Wrexham acted as if they were already through before the game and that he was “glad” to knock them out.
“I think they have been disrespectful with a few things before the game thinking they were already through,” Sharp said. “I am glad we have beat them.
“I wasn’t happy with a few of their players. That is it now, we have got one over on them, good luck to them for promotion, we put that one to bed now.
“I wasn’t happy with the way they have been as a club before the game, eyeing up Spurs. They’ve not even beat us. We want to go as far as we can in this competition. If we get beat in the next round fair enough, we will give it a go.”
Sharp also had words with Wrexham’s players and staff in the tunnel following the final whistle but Parkinson gave a dignified response.
“I was a bit disappointed with Billy to be honest with you at the end, some of the things he was shouting down the tunnel,” Parkinson said.
“Well done Bill, you’re a fantastic player, but I thought he was disrespectful after the game. I think the way the players celebrated and the crowd and staff was just a mark of how tough we made it for them and they were relieved to get through.
“The message to Billy is: You’re better than that, you really are. My players are humble people and they are a great credit to the football club.”
Tozer felt Wrexham conducted themselves in the right manner heading into the game, with the Blades scoring an injury-time equaliser at The Racecourse a week last Sunday to draw 3-3 and take the tie to a replay.
"I don't think any of our lads have said anything disrespectful," said Tozer.
"We certainly approached the game properly but if that's the way they want to be, that's the way they want to be.
"I feel a bit of dampener has been put on the game with the way that they acted in the tunnel if I am being honest with you.
"They showed a real lack of humility but that's the way they want to be.
"I feel like if we'd won that game, we would have showed a lot more humility and respect."
On Sharp's reaction in the tunnel area, Tozer added: "He should show more respect to us. Telling us to shove it on the documentary.
"I feel like he has fabricated stuff in his head to make that acceptable for himself.
"I said to him face to face, 'show a bit more humility'. We've congratulated them on the win. We haven't come in sulking, we've walked down the tunnel as normal. It's just a shame that's the way it's ended."
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