Former Nottingham Forest striker Billy Sharp has been a popular figure with fans of the clubs he’s played for during his career. Last night, however, the former Reds star was involved in a verbal spat with Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson as the Blades progressed in the FA Cup.
Sharp netted a 94th-minute goal to send Bramall Lane into pandemonium. The Blades will now face Premier League giants Tottenham in the fifth round of the competition after breaking non-league hearts in the dying embers of the contest.
Sharp wasn’t in the mood for the media-contrived rubbish during his post-match interview. He claimed that Wrexham had been disrespectful in the build-up by focusing on Tottenham as though the Blades would simply roll over.
Parkinson took offense to his suggestions though. He fought back with a barrage towards Sharp of his own and it’s fair to say that he doesn’t believe his team were focused on Tottenham before the replay.
He told The Express: “I was a bit disappointed with Billy, with some of the things he was shouting down the tunnel. He’s a fantastic player but I thought he was disrespectful after the game. The way they celebrated was a mark of how tough we made it for them.
MORE FOREST STORIES
“My message to Billy is: you’re better than that. My players are humble people and they’re a credit to the football club.”
Ex-Forest striker Sharp is a popular but Parkinson is right
This isn’t Sharp in the best light. As the Championship side, to even need a replay to beat the National League outfit is somewhat embarrassing from their perspective.
To then go lauding it around as some sort of amazing feat, is just bizarre. You won the game, avoided the banana skin and nothing more needs to be said really.
Why wouldn’t Wrexham be excited at the prospect of playing Tottenham? They play in a league that is littered with semi-pro outfits so why not dare to dream?
Sharp was excellent for Forest. He scored 11 goals for the club and was worshipped by the fans who wanted him signed permanently when his loan deal expired.
Here, however, he’s wide of the mark and this heat of the moment interview doesn’t cover him in the best light.