Wrexham’s head coach Phil Parkinson praised their «remarkable» FA Cup upset against Premier League side Nottingham Forest, expressing his happiness that the club’s celebrity owner Ryan Reynolds was present to witness it.
Wrexham triumphed 4-3 on penalties to progress to the fourth round after the match ended in a 3-3 draw, with Wrexham having initially held leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in an exhilarating contest.
«I spoke with him prior to the match, and it was wonderful to have him here with his family,» Parkinson shared during a news conference regarding the «Deadpool» star.
«I think it was the first time Ryan’s mother attended tonight. It’s incredibly special, and I hope they had a great evening.
«I’m sure they will enjoy a few glasses of wine to celebrate on their return flight home tonight.»
Arsenal, Newcastle United, and West Ham United were among their defeated opponents, but this marked their first victory over a top-flight team in the tournament in 26 years.
«I always aim for us to perform well on significant occasions like these, and I felt we did,» Parkinson remarked to ESPN. «We were unfortunate not to secure a win in regular time, which deflated us as expected.
«As we entered extra time, there was an almost resigned feeling among the crowd and the team, and we had to motivate ourselves again.
«Kudos to the players for their resilience because it takes an incredible effort to extend play against a Premier League team like Nottingham Forest, especially following the Christmas schedule.»
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Wrexham advance through penalties in FA Cup
Wrexham defeat Nottingham Forest in penalties to progress to the next stage of the FA Cup.
Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone netted within three minutes of each other in the first half, giving Wrexham a 2-0 lead at STōK Cae Ras.
Igor Jesus responded for Forest, but Dominic Hyam quickly reestablished the Red Dragons’ two-goal advantage.
Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi brought the match into extra time with two superb goals, the latter coming in the 89th minute, but goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo emerged as Wrexham’s hero with outstanding saves from Jesus and Omari Hutchinson in the shootout.
«The manager addressed us before the match, reminding us of the club’s history and our ability to conquer teams much higher than us,» a elated Okonkwo stated. «It was incredible to win in the end. We just need to relish this moment.»
The FA Cup commenced in August with 446 clubs vying for a spot in the prestigious final at Wembley Stadium, but only teams from the top two divisions enter at this third round.
Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this report.
