Cambridge United manager Neil Harris praises players after 2-2 draw with Wrexham in League One

Neil Harris has praised the performance that his Cambridge United players produced during last night’s 2-2 draw with Wrexham at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

In all likelihood the sides will be separated by two divisions next season, with the U’s set to be relegated from League One while visiting Wrexham currently occupy one of the two automatic promotion spots.

But there was nothing to split them on this occasion. The Red Dragons took just four minutes to break the deadlock through George Dobson’s precise effort from distance, only for United to turn things around via goals either side of the break from Liam Bennett – his first for the club in the league – and Josh Stokes, who netted from the penalty spot.

However, former Cambridge striker Sam Smith headed in an equaliser midway through the second half to restore parity.

Harris said: “When we talk about what a Neil Harris team looks like, it’s not about just the formation, it’s about the profile of the players in the team and the way I want us to play. We saw that tonight.

“I want us to be a team that can play forward and run forward, get round second balls. To do that sometimes you need to have a profile of player in your team and we had that tonight. Secondly you need to have moments when you can really handle the football as well.

“That’s what the modern game is and that’s what we’ve got to be as Cambridge United. I fully know what the fans want to see, fully know what this club stands for, and it’s why I’m here. It’s why I’ve been brought here, to deliver that.

“Tonight we had all-round game and I’m extremely proud of the players because Wrexham are a top, top side.”

Meanwhile, Harris’ opposite number Phil Parkinson was left ‘raging’ at two decisions made by referee Thomas Parsons.

The Wrexham boss was adamant that United should not have been awarded a penalty for a tackle on Ryan Loft, while he also challenged the reasoning behind ruling out a header from Eoghan O’Connell late in the contest.

“The referee’s performance tonight, to say I’m raging is one of the biggest understatements in my 1,000 games,” said Parkinson.

“That penalty decision is one of the worst penalty decisions I’ve seen, and to disallow the goal at the end is completely bizarre.

“There is no way he can be sure that’s gone out of play. But the penalty decision is just incredible. The ref couldn’t wait to give them things tonight.

“Obviously we came here looking for three points. I thought the performance level was very good. A couple of big decisions have gone against us, but I ask the lads for performances and for 80 per cent of the game I thought we played well.

“We stayed controlled even at 2-1 down, got back in the game, and have had a couple of great chances to win it. I was pleased with the composure we showed after the penalty decision to get back in the game.

“We’ve had other chances, other bits of good defending from them, chances we should have taken. All in all the performance is good but the result is not what we really want.”

Second-from-bottom Cambridge, who are 10 points from safety, will travel to bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury Town on Saturday (5 April).