Phil Parkinson rushed to his crestfallen goalkeeper’s defence. The Wrexham manager himself had watched on in despair as a precious Championship point slipped through his fingers, agonisingly, and in such slapstick circumstances at the home of Swansea City, a few short days before Christmas.
Arthur Okonkwo was the fall guy that night at the Liberty Stadium, after his calamitous error deep in stoppage-time decided that Welsh affair, but his manager came out and described the young stopper as a “colossus”.
Okonkwo hasn’t looked back since that public show of support, and it is he who will now be serenaded by supporters who celebrated a first FA Cup scalp over Premier League opposition in 26 years.
When asked about what was written on his water bottle, Okonkwo told TNT Sports through a cacophony noise inside the Racecourse Ground: “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret. Thankfully, we have good analysis people to help us out. I had a look at it before the game, so I’m really happy to make the two saves and help us win the game.
“The manager spoke to us before the game, told us about the history of the club and how we’re able to beat teams who are way above us. It was amazing to win the game in the end. We just have to enjoy the moment.”
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Highlights: Forest pay the penalty in thrilling FA Cup loss to Wrexham
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So nice, Wrexham won the game twice
When the third-round draw was made, eyes were instantly drawn to this fixture. Back in 1982, it was at the City Ground where Wrexham defeated Forest at this stage – a fine 3-1 win thanks to goals from Steve Dowman, Mick Vinter and Dixie McNeil. For 2026, read Liberato Cacace, Oliver Rathbone and Dominic Hyam.
The old competition has a remarkable way of storing narratives, but Sean Dyche’s Forest side were a pale imitation of themselves during the first half – even by their poor standards across large parts of an eventful Premier League campaign to date.
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‘Could have taken them all off, including myself’ – Dyche hits out at ‘unacceptable’ first half
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“The first half was completely unacceptable,” he told TNT Sports. “I let the players know, and certainly some individuals will know, and they’ve got to look in the mirror at that side of things. But, the strangeness of football, I thought the players that came on in the second half were a credit, and we went on and looked like a Premier League side.”
That Wrexham, having been pegged back to 3-3 at the very death, absorbed the inevitable onslaught during extra-time made this success all the more impressive.
Parkinson refuses to let good work go to waste
In the opening minutes, Ally McCoist countered that it would not be too great a surprise to him if Wrexham were to pull off this scalp. The eight changes made by Dyche, coupled with the hosts’ momentum from a four-game winning streak in the Championship, made it a leveller.
Forest were lethargic and really ought to have been buried late on in the first half when Sam Smith missed a gilt-edged chance to make it 3-0 when through on goal.
As Igor Jesus began the second-half comeback, your mind wandered back to Smith and his failed attempt to beat Matz Sels with the goal at his mercy.
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Parkinson reveals what he told Wrexham players to inspire ‘rollercoaster’ victory
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High in the stands, just 10 yards from the gantry, actor Ryan Reynolds had felt confident enough to swap into a red jersey, complete with ‘No 4 McElhenney’ on his back – in homage to his Wrexham co-owner’s absence. Then not so much, as the jersey was put back in its box just as Hyam was adding a third for the home side. These A-Listers are superstitious.
You couldn’t take your eyes off events on the field, as Hudson-Odoi then took center stage to force an additional 30 minutes with Wrexham seemingly out on their feet. But Parkinson refused to let his players wilt at the chance of having their own Hollywood ending.
“It was a roller-coaster game,” he told TNT Sports. “The late goal knocked the stuffing out of us a bit during the first half of extra time. I said to the lads at the break, ‘come on, we’ve come a long way here, let’s not give up now’ – it was almost that little bit of acceptance, but that was understandable given this comes after the Christmas period and they’ve been asked to go again against a Premier League club with so much quality.
“Despite them making changes at half-time, I still think we looked dangerous and carried a threat tonight. It’s a huge night and I’m pleased tonight for these players that they can write a small piece of history in the club’s rich heritage in the FA Cup.”
Promotion to the Premier League remains the priority for Wrexham this season – but an FA Cup run is the perfect way of proving to themselves it is a place they belong.
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Savage tells Forest fringe players to ‘look in the mirror’
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The joy of ‘proper football’ with VAR and SAOT… AWOL
It wasn’t intended as a slight on the French league, but rather a way of noting the purity of two London clubs being drawn to face each other in a one-off tie, full of blood and thunder. Perhaps he was thinking of the time the fixture was played on what looked like sandpit at Stamford Bridge back in January 2003.
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Hand or shoulder? Luiz devastated as first Forest goal disallowed – but should it stand?
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The Football Association agreed once more for there to be no replays this season, with VAR and semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) only kicking in from the fifth round onwards. Given the lengthy delays caused by the use of pitchside monitors and forensic analysis of incidents seen in the Premier League this season, this game was a fine advert for footballing traditionalists.
When Douglas Luiz’s first-half opener was disallowed for handball, the Forest players didn’t make too much of a fuss, just like it used to be. This was the night when the Magic of the Cup reminded us that when something isn’t broke, it doesn’t need fixing.
McCoist summed it up perfectly.
“What a game. What a night. I was having a moan as it took 20 minutes to get going, but after that, it was non-stop. We’ve been blessed tonight, watching a terrific cup tie.”
Friday night’s humdinger, full of plot twists and unscripted drama, lit a fire on a freezing night. For some, it sucked you back in.
