Phil Parkinson came to the defense of “colossus” Arthur Okonkwo after a blunder by the Wrexham goalkeeper in the 90th minute led to a Swansea 2-1 win in a fiercely contested Welsh derby.
Okonkwo initially misjudged Ethan Galbraith’s free kick, his punch floating into the air and landing near Ben Cabango.
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Cabango then sent a looping header toward the goal, but Okonkwo was positioned to make a straightforward catch near the post. However, he unexpectedly dropped the ball, allowing Adam Idah to simply nudge it over the line.
“At the moment of the punch, it didn’t go as he intended,” Parkinson explained after Wrexham’s winless streak in the Championship extended to five matches. “He attempted to fix his mistake, and I think Dom [Hyam] could have cleared the ball, but they ended up getting in each other’s way.”
“It’s a high-profile error, but Arthur has been outstanding. He’s been a rock in goal and will continue to receive immense support because he has been integral in securing points for us over the past few seasons.”
“When a mistake like that occurs, it’s sure to be spotlighted, but he’s a resilient character and will have the backing of his teammates.”
Wrexham’s woes deepened with a serious injury to midfielder Lewis O’Brien, who was only on the field for seven minutes before being taken down by Galbraith.
“Galbraith is fortunate not to have received a red card. Lewis has suffered a knee injury and dislocated his shoulder,” Parkinson noted. “He’s a tough player and will only leave the pitch if it’s something serious. It’s a difficult way to lose a match.”
Idah’s winning goal came after Zan Vipotnik equalized for Swansea in the 70th minute with a shot that deflected off Hyam.
Wrexham initially took the lead in the 14th minute when Cameron Burgess accidentally directed Ryan Longman’s cross into his own goal, but Swansea showed greater control throughout the match without creating many clear opportunities.
“It was an emotional game, as we anticipated,” remarked Swansea manager Vitor Matos, whose team has now achieved three consecutive home victories, moving up to 17th place and just two points behind Wrexham.
“They started strong, but our response after conceding was excellent; we deserved the result.”
“Adam is a striker eager to score, especially as he’s not been starting lately and wants to make an impact when he plays. I’m really pleased for him.”
“Every point counts, which is crucial for us right now. Though we aim to climb the table, there are many matches ahead.”