Okonkwo praised as Parkinson rues 'great chance'

Phil Parkinson feels Arthur Okonkwo is improving on a weekly basis after he kept a clean sheet to earn Wrexham a point at Portsmouth.

The goalkeeper has been a mainstay in the Championship for the Red Dragons since summer signing Danny Ward suffered an elbow injury in late August.

And he produced impressive saves to deny the likes of Josh Murphy and Ibane Bowat at Fratton Park as the contest ended goalless, with Wrexham registering a third league clean sheet of the season.

"I'm so pleased for the big fella (Okonkwo) tonight, he's getting better and better each week," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"He's been on this journey through the divisions with us and he's adapting all the time.

"That was a really good performance from him tonight. He can be very pleased with his clean sheet."

John Mousinho's Portsmouth side had more than double the number of efforts on and off target than Wrexham managed, although arguably the game's best chance fell to Lewis O'Brien in the second half.

The Wrexham midfielder was played through on goal by Liberato Cacace but was unable to beat the onrushing Josef Bursik.

And while pleased with the battling qualities on show against Pompey, Parkinson says Wrexham could well have left Fratton Park with all three points.

"We've spoken about it a lot. It's a great chance," added the Wrexham boss.

"It was one of few moments in the second half where we linked the game and cut them open.

"It was a great moment for us. If he (O'Brien) looks back, he probably didn't need the touch, he probably could have bent it in first time.

"The keeper came out and did well to be fair to him but in those moments, you need them to go in to win games."