Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson hails co-owner Ryan Reynolds after his side’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
WREXHAM: Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was delighted co-owner Ryan Reynolds witnessed a finish worthy of a Hollywood movie as his side knocked Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup.
The Championship club won 4-3 on penalties at the Racecourse Ground after a 3-3 draw following extra time.
“I had a chat with him before the game and it was great to see him over here with his family,” said Parkinson of the ‘Deadpool’ star.
“I think Ryan’s mum was here tonight, which was for the first time. So it’s really special and I hope they’ve enjoyed the night.”
Wrexham led 2-0 and 3-1 during a classic cup thriller before Forest fought back to force extra time.
Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone scored late in the first half to put Wrexham in command.
Igor Jesus replied for Forest before Dominic Hyam restored the home side’s two-goal advantage.
Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi then took the tie into extra time with two fine finishes, the second in the 89th minute.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo proved to be Wrexham’s hero with two superb shootout saves from Jesus and Omari Hutchinson.
“We had to rally the troops a bit in the break, because I think the whole ground had gone flat,” Parkinson told TNT Sports.
“You get that feeling ‘have we lost our best chance to get through and beat a Premier League team’?”
He added that it was a huge night for the players to write their own bit of history in the club’s rich FA Cup heritage.
Forest boss Sean Dyche was scathing about his much-changed side’s first-half display that led to an early exit.
“The first half is completely unacceptable,” he said.
“I’ve let certain individuals know that and they’ve got to look in the mirror.”
This was Wrexham’s first victory over top-flight opponents in the FA Cup for 26 years.
