PHIL PARKINSON felt key decisions went against his side as Wrexham suffered defeat in their first National League outing of the year.

The Reds lost 3-1 against promotion rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane on Sunday but remain third in the table.

Reece Hall-Johnson gave Wrexham an early lead but the Reds had to play with 10 men for 80 minutes after Harry Lennon was shown a straight red card for handball, and the Magpies equalised from the resulting penalty before going 2-1 up at the break.

County scored a hotly disputed third goal which referee Paul Marsden eventually awarded and Parkinson was not happy with a number of the decisions made by the officials.

“It was a big game and you need officials who are going to get the big decisions right,” said Parkinson.

“That is key and they are the officials which progress.

“Decisions have gone against us but effort wise, we couldn’t have asked for much more.”

Hall-Johnson’s spectacular 25 yard strike was cancelled out after Kairo Mitchell’s goalbound effort was handled on the line by Lennon and leading scorer Kyle Wootton converted the resulting penalty.

Parkinson had no complaints with Marsden awarding a spot-kick but felt Lennon’s handball was not intentional and the centre-back didn’t deserve to be sent off.

“As far as I know, the rule is that if it is intentional - if you intentionally bring someone down in the box - then you get sent off,” said Parkinson.

“If you bring someone down and it is like a tackle, and it is a penalty, it is not double jeopardy and they don’t get sent off.

“That handball is not intentional. He is on the line, it has hit his arm so it is a penalty but I don’t think it is a sending off.”

Parkinson believes County substitute Elisha Sam should also have been dismissed following a late challenge on Bryce Hosannah in the second half, with Marsden only brandishing a yellow card.

“It is a definite red. He has lunged in, it is a dangerous challenge and it is a red,” said Parkinson.

Wrexham missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-2 when top scorer Paul Mullin’s penalty was saved by Anthony Patterson early in the second half.

With the Reds searching for an equaliser, County made it 3-1 in the 67th minute as Jayden Richardson’s header was adjudged to have crossed the line despite Jordan Davies’ superb headed clearance.

It was another decision that Parkinson felt the officials got wrong.

“The linesman has got to be 100 per cent sure to give that decision,” said Parkinson.

“I asked him to look me in the eye and tell me he was 100 per cent sure and I don’t think he could.

“It doesn’t look over the line to me and I have seen if five times.

“If you are telling me in real time that he is convinced that has gone over the line or he has just made a little bit of a judgement call and made a guess because that is what I think he has done.”