Parkinson defends Okonkwo but his own words expose Wrexham’s real problems at Swansea

Phil Parkinson stood in front of cameras after Wrexham’s 2-1 defeat at Swansea and did exactly what a manager should do: he defended his goalkeeper. Arthur Okonkwo made a catastrophic error in stoppage time, but Parkinson insisted he’d get every bit of support from the club.

But while the manager’s loyalty to his players is admirable, his own assessment of the match exposed problems that run far deeper than one mistake.

Wrexham didn’t lose because Okonkwo dropped a cross in the 90th minute. They lost because they spent 90 minutes failing to control a match they led for 76 of them.

Parkinson’s words reveal the truth he’s trying to protect

Phil Parkinson was quick to put Okonkwo’s error in context. He praised the goalkeeper’s performances this season and in previous campaigns, calling him “an absolute colossus” and promising full support from everyone at the club.

That loyalty matters, and it’s the right response from a manager who understands team cohesion. But Parkinson’s assessment of the overall performance told a different story.

“Did we have enough of that quality and calmness in possession over the 90 minutes? No. We needed to get control more in more periods of the game. There probably wasn’t enough to go and really take the game away from them.”

Those are the words of a manager who knows his team’s problems extend beyond individual errors. Wrexham didn’t just fail to kill the game; they never properly controlled it.

The first goal Wrexham conceded came from what Parkinson described as a “weakly hit shot double deflection.” The second came from Okonkwo’s mistake, which the manager explained as a punch the goalkeeper didn’t connect with before trying to rectify the error when Dominic Hyam could probably have just headed it clear.

Both goals were unlucky in execution, but neither would have mattered if Wrexham had done what Championship teams do: take control after scoring and put matches beyond doubt.

O’Brien injury compounds problems Parkinson can’t solve

Lewis O’Brien’s injury adds another layer to Wrexham’s mounting problems. Parkinson confirmed the midfielder damaged his knee and dislocated his shoulder in what he called a dangerous tackle that should have been close to a red card.

Losing O’Brien removes one of the few players capable of providing the control and calmness Parkinson admitted was missing. The timing couldn’t be worse, with the January transfer window still weeks away.

Parkinson promised resilience and a response over the Christmas period. He pointed to previous occasions when Wrexham lost high-profile games and bounced back as a group.

But resilience doesn’t fix tactical problems. Responding with character doesn’t address the fundamental issue Parkinson himself identified: Wrexham lack the quality and composure to control Championship matches when it matters most.

Parkinson’s defence of Okonkwo was the right call, but his admission about possession and control revealed the truth about Friday night. Wrexham didn’t lose because their goalkeeper made a mistake; they lost because they spent 90 minutes inviting the pressure that eventually broke them.

About The Author

Andrew Pargh

Known for his ability to uncover exclusive stories and conduct in-depth interviews, Andrew provides the Wrexham Reds community with essential, well-researched match analysis, player features, and coverage of developments both on and off the pitch. His goal is to deliver the kind of passionate, dedicated, and high-quality journalism that keeps Wrexham fans reading and returning for more.

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