Wrexham 2-4 Chelsea: VAR brings a harsh dose of reality to the Championship team

This will be a situation that Wrexham will have to get used to should they turn the promise of the play-offs into a fourth successive promotion and book regular visits from their Premier League opponents.

For now, though, manager Phil Parkinson can only bemoan the officials’ refusal to read the script.

“Without VAR, we wouldn’t have given anyone a red card and that goal would definitely stand, so it’s against us tonight,” Parkinson said, directing his anger further at Dobson’s decision for a foul on Alejandro Garnacho.

“It’s the first time I’ve tasted this and I know the rule is that there has to be a clear and obvious foul for the decision to be changed – and I think the referee has to back his judgment in real time, the moment in the moment. He was in a great position to see that.”

It’s one thing to be deprived of a level playing field when trying to close the gap in the Premier League, but it’s another thing to be deprived of the opportunity to take penalties.

“You don’t want to see goals ruled out like that, we’re talking inches,” pundit Micah Richards told Match of the Day.

Parkinson was more accepting of the decision, refusing to blame Brandt for his instinctive goal-line touch and suggesting that Moore’s header would have hit the post.

He was also adamant that his side’s quest for a Premier League place would not be affected by disappointment.

“I’ve said this before, but not to a lot of people,” Parkinson said, referring to the media attendance that tripled as the match was televised in 75 countries around the world as the global fascination with Wrexham became a reality.

“But I always want my team and their performance to reflect the town, so people know what Wrexham is all about.

“We did that tonight and it’s very important.”