Wrexham exit Carabao Cup after penalty shoot-out loss to Bradford

The second round tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Phil Parkinson’s men recovering from going behind after just three minutes.

Will Boyle equalised in the second half to take the game to a penalty shoot-out where League Two rivals Bradford won 4-3 to progress.

Barnett hailed the response and felt Wrexham would have been worthy winners in normal time.

“On the balance of chances we should probably have won the game,” said the wing-back.

“It is 1-0 and we have got to fight, we have got to work hard but it is in our character to come back in games and turn the result around with our performance which I thought was really good.

“There were a lot of brilliant individual performances and collectively as a a team.

“If we played another 10 minutes, we looked like the team who might have pinched a winner.

“Bradford looked dangerous on the counter at points but even then, I didn’t think they were going to score.

“It is disappointing to lose but the performance will give us a lot of confidence.”

Referee Ben Speedie awarded Bradford a controversial spot-kick with less than 90 seconds on the clock.

It looked like fit-again centre-back Aaron Hayden won the won cleanly in the area but Speedie felt Jamie Walker had been pushed over and Tyler Smith converted his penalty.

Barnett was surprised with the decision, saying: “From my angle, I didn’t think it was a penalty.

“I was quite confused - most of us were on the pitch.

“We thought Aaron got his body in and got the ball but these decisions happen.

“You have got to get on with it and we showed great character to get back in the game.”

Elliot Lee, Ollie Palmer and James McClean converted their penalties but Luke Young and James Jones were unsuccessful as Bradford won despite Ben Oyegoke’s effort saved by Mark Howard.

“It is a lottery on penalties,” added Barnett. “Anyone who goes up and takes a penalty shows great bravery, it is on their goalkeeper then and you can’t do anything more.”