Wolves manager refuse to criticise Tolu Arokodare for missed penalty

Wolves manager Rob Edwards refused to blame Tolu Arokodare after the Nigeria striker missed from the penalty spot in their 1-0 Premier League defeat away to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The gigantic forward failed to give his side the lead late in the first half at the Selhurst Park. Rob Edwards’ side were the better side in the first 45 and should have been ahead after Mateus Mane was brought down in the area.

Dean Henderson with the penalty save!

The @CPFC captain keeps out Tolu Arokodare’s effort from the spot to prevent Wolves taking the lead 🧤 pic.twitter.com/HfHggdysXm

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 22, 2026

However, Arokodare had his penalty saved by Dean Henderson.

After the break Ladislav Krejci was booked twice in a matter of minutes, and the Eagles made their opponents pay in the final minute of the 90 when Evan Guessand ghosted into the Wolves box and fired home at the near post to win it for the hosts.

‘I’m never going to come out and criticise him’

Speaking on the missed penalty, Edwards told Wolves website: “He (Arokodare) felt confident. He was brave and stepped up, and it can happen.

“I’m never going to come out and criticise him for missing a penalty. Tolu’s our number nine and felt positive over the ball. In that moment, it’s important you don’t change. There can be a number of people who want to take it, but Tolu was designated one and wanted to take it at that time.”

Discussing the move which resulted into the penalty, Edwards said: “The way we earnt the penalty was brilliant, the press was great, we got in behind them. It was a snapshot of how the game was going, we were pressing them really well, the lads understood it so well, and with the ball I thought we were excellent.

“If I could be critical, once we broke through, you want to create a little bit more in those moments, once we got behind their midfield line, which we did a few times. But they’re big strides forward in terms of the performance.”

Arokodare moved to Wolves from KRC Genk on a four-year contract with the option of a further one year in a deal. He scored his first goal for Wolves in a 2-0 home victory over Everton in the third round of the EFL Cup.