Nottingham Forest FA Cup Defeat To Wrexham Prompts Dyche Criticism

Wrexham knocked Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw, extending Wrexham's winning run to five matches in all competitions. Arthur Okonkwo saved two spot-kicks in the shootout,

after Forest had come from 3-0 down, with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring twice to force extra time at 3-3.

The Premier League side were left frustrated at the Racecourse Ground, where Forest needed a late stoppage-time goal to avoid defeat in normal time. Wrexham led 2-0 at half-time through Liberato Cacace and Oliver Rathbone, before Dominic Hyam added a third, but Forest rallied to reach extra time and then penalties.

Sean Dyche strongly criticised Nottingham Forest's performance before the interval, describing the first 45 minutes as far below required standards. Dyche acknowledged an improvement after the break, when Forest finally played with more control and intensity, and the substitutes helped change the game against the League Two side.

"The first half was completely unacceptable, Dyche 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. Callum's [Hudson-Odoi] goals, brilliant from him, and we get back in it, and then as you know penalties are a lottery. We've created enough chances to win the game but we didn't in the end. You can't do that in the first half, completely unacceptable, to me, but also I told them to look in the mirror because that is unacceptable to the badge as well. "

Wrexham's progress into the fourth round also carried historical weight for the Welsh club. This was the first time since December 1999 that Wrexham eliminated a Premier League opponent from the FA Cup, when Middlesbrough were beaten 2-1. It was also a rare three-goal haul against top-flight opposition in the competition.

Before this tie, the last occasion Wrexham scored three goals in an FA Cup match against a top-division team came in January 1982. On that day, Wrexham won 3-1 away against Brian Clough's Forest, another notable moment in the club's cup story, underlining the scale of this latest victory.

Match	Competition	Score	Wrexham achievement
vs Nottingham Forest	FA Cup, January 2026	3-3 (Wrexham win on penalties)	First Premier League scalp since 1999
vs Middlesbrough	FA Cup, December 1999	2-1 win	Beat Premier League opposition
vs Brian Clough's Forest	FA Cup, January 1982	3-1 win	Last time scoring three vs top-flight

Despite the defeat, Dyche highlighted how Forest improved after the break and especially following half-time changes. The manager felt Forest then created enough openings to settle the tie, yet wasteful finishing and Okonkwo's penalty saves meant Forest's late recovery ultimately brought no reward.

The penalty shootout hero #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/M8wYOftk5YWrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) January 9, 2026

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest FA Cup emotions and Parkinson reaction

For Wrexham, the mood shifted several times across normal and extra time. Hudson-Odoi's stoppage-time equaliser seemed to drain belief from both the home players and the crowd, who had sensed a famous win in regulation. Early in extra time, Wrexham appeared to be adjusting mentally to the setback.

"It was another crazy game. I was pleased how we played against a really good side, and they made changes at half time as well, said Parkinson. The late goal kind of deflated us, and the crowd as well, because you got the feeling after that 'that was our big chance'. And the first ten minutes of extra time we were almost trying to gain an acceptance of that. It's a big night for the club, it really is. I'm just pleased for this group of players to write their bit of history in the FA Cup. "

Phil Parkinson's side eventually regained focus and composure, defending more solidly as extra time progressed and then holding their nerve from the spot. The shootout victory ensured Wrexham's five-match winning streak stayed intact and added another memorable FA Cup chapter against Nottingham Forest for the club and its supporters.